The project "Stargate" marks a turning point in the global dominance of artificial intelligence and is transforming the desert of Abu Dhabi into the new epicenter of industrial AI. The project is part of a gigantic infrastructure initiative estimated at 500 billion US dollars, which is being led by OpenAI, Microsoft and the Emirati sovereign wealth fund MGX is being driven forward.
Setting the geopolitical course: Trump's signature
A decisive catalyst for this project was the formal approval by President Trump (as of 2026). After intense negotiations, the White House signed export licenses that paved the way for the delivery of the most powerful Nvidia chips - namely the Blackwell GB300-series - to the Gulf state.
This signature was not a mere administrative act, but a strategic barter deal: the US eased export restrictions in return for security guarantees from the UAE to distance itself more strongly from Chinese influence in terms of technology and to invest heavily in US infrastructure. This secured orders worth billions for Nvidia and consolidated the UAE's role as a "bridgehead" between the West and the emerging markets of the global South.
The architect behind MGX: Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed
The main person responsible on the Emirati side is Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan. As National Security Advisor to the UAE and Chairman of the dedicated AI fund MGX and the AI company G42 he is the strategic mind behind Abu Dhabi's technological transformation. He is considered a visionary who is channeling the capital of the oil era into the digital infrastructure of the future. Under his leadership, Abu Dhabi is no longer just positioning itself as a buyer, but as an operator of data centers with a capacity of up to 5 gigawatts (GW).
The Saudis' ambitions
At the same time Saudi Arabia with its project "HUMAIN" (often mentioned in the context of GAIA and NEOM) is pursuing similar plans. In close cooperation with Nvidia boss Jensen Huang, the kingdom is building so-called "AI Factories". The aim of the Saudis under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is to convert the country's abundant energy resources into computing power directly on site. The volume of planned investment in US semiconductors and infrastructure is estimated at hundreds of billions of dollars, creating direct competition - but also synergies - with the plans from Abu Dhabi.
Listed profiteers
The massive capital flows into these infrastructure projects reveal clear winners on the markets:
- Nvidia (NVDA): The undisputed hardware supplier. The sale of Blackwell systems to the UAE and Saudi Arabia alone generates billions in predictable revenues.
- Microsoft (MSFT) & Oracle (ORCL): As operational partners of the Stargate project, they benefit from the cloud infrastructure and the integration of their software stacks into these new superclusters.
- SoftBank (SFTBY): Masayoshi Son is a major funder and chairman of the Stargate project, securing SoftBank a central role in the AI value chain.
- Energy assets: Due to the immense demand for electricity (Stargate requires up to 10 GW), nuclear power plant operators and energy infrastructure stocks such as Constellation Energy (CEG) or Vistra (VST) are coming into focus.
others: $VRT (-2.32%) for cooling (critical in the deserts of Abu Dhabi)
$IREN (-5.57%) to cushion Microsoft's needs
