OpenAI, the creator of widely-used AI chatbot application – ChatGPT, has announced collaboration with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to build Stargate UAE, its first international massive AI data center. 

The deal is under OpenAI for Countries⁠ initiative, the focus will be on dual investments, which are: 

• “A 1GW Stargate UAE cluster in Abu Dhabi with 200MW expected to go live in 2026
• UAE investment into U.S. Stargate infrastructure, building on the U.S.-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership, as announced the UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and US President Donald Trump last week.”

Does the collaboration also aim to provide free access to ChatGPT Plus, offered by the UAE, to all its residents, including the expat population?  This claim appears to be inaccurate, as there is no official mention of 'free ChatGPT Plus for UAE residents.' 

Instead, the official statement reads: “The new partnership will support the UAE in leveraging OpenAI’s tools across critical sectors like government, energy, healthcare, education, and transportation to help accelerate innovation and economic growth while creating lasting benefits for its people.

Under the partnership, the UAE will become the first country in the world to enable ChatGPT nationwide—giving people across the country the ability to access OpenAI's technology,”

“Stargate UAE has the potential to provide AI infrastructure and compute capacity within a 2,000-mile radius, reaching up to half the world’s population,” it added. 

As for OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's statement on the matter, he said: “By establishing the world's first Stargate outside of the US in the UAE, we're transforming a bold vision into reality. It's a step toward ensuring that some of this era's most important breakthroughs — safer medicines, personalised learning, and modernised energy — can emerge from more places and benefit the world.”

As part of the deal, OpenAI will also partner with leading tech giants including, UAE-based AI firm G42, Oracle, Nvidia, Cisco, and SoftBank, to develop a one-gigawatt AI computing cluster in Abu Dhabi, with 200 megawatts expected to be operational in 2026.

According to media reports, the investments could reach USD 20 billion, with USD 8–10 billion allocated to projects in the Gulf and a similar amount for AI infrastructure in the US, including Stargate.

There is clearly no mention of free access to ChatGPT's premium version for UAE residents.

All the reports of the UAE offering ChatGPT plus free access starting May 2025 to its residents are false. 

OpenAI provided free access to ChatGPT’s premium version only to eligible students in the United States and Canada. “Students can claim access to ChatGPT Plus for free from March 31, 2025, to May 31, 2025. The offer is valid for two months once you claim it,” it stated on the official website. That offer is no longer available.

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In the UAE, free access is only available for ChatGPT 3.5, which is the free version globally. To gain access to the ChatGPT Plus version, users still need to pay $20 per month, which is approximately AED 72.

Therefore, it is advisable to check sources like official OpenAI news or official UAE government channels like Dubai Government Media Office, for any such announcement and the formal launch of the initiative.