G42 has shared a construction update on Stargate UAE, the 1GW AI infrastructure cluster being built by Khazna Data Centers in Abu Dhabi. The project is part of a wider 5GW UAE–U.S. AI Campus. The first 200MW block is already in build with a 2026 handover target. Design is locked, structures are going up, MEP is being wrapped up, and long-lead kit has started arriving—so this isn’t slideware.
What G42 actually announced
The company issued a media alert on 16 October 2025 stating that construction is “well underway” on Stargate UAE and progressing to the planned 2026 delivery for the first 200MW. It’s a firm status check rather than a fresh launch.
- 1GW total capacity for Stargate UAE
- First 200MW in active construction now
- 2026 delivery target for that phase
- Led by Khazna Data Centers, part of G42
G42 says the project moved quickly from design to construction with Khazna running a “design-to-build” approach. That matters: it shortens the gap between drawings and site work, which is often where large data-centre projects lose months.
Where it fits: the 5GW UAE–U.S. AI Campus
Stargate UAE is only one slice of a bigger plan: a 5GW AI campus in Abu Dhabi positioned as a national-scale backbone for compute. It was announced in May with global partners including OpenAI, Oracle, NVIDIA, Cisco and SoftBank.
- Stargate UAE contributes 1GW inside a 5GW campus
- Campus partners: OpenAI, Oracle, NVIDIA, Cisco, SoftBank
- Aims to underpin the UAE’s “Intelligence Grid” vision and an AI-native society
For readers following the region’s AI push, this sits alongside ongoing enterprise and skills moves. If you want the flavour of vendors plugging into the UAE scene, see our pieces on Oracle’s AI centre in Dubai and Microsoft’s agentic AI at GITEX, which sketch how software stacks and talent programmes meet local infrastructure.
Build status: drawings, steel, and deliveries
Khazna reports that civil, structural and architectural work are “well advanced,” with MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) systems being finalised. Key modular components have entered production, long-lead items are fully procured, and the first mechanical systems have already arrived on site. Supply chain performance is called out as a strength—useful given global lead-time headaches for power and cooling gear.
- Civil/structural/architectural works progressing to plan
- MEP finalisation underway
- Modular components in production
- Long-lead equipment procured; first mechanical deliveries received
In other words: concrete is poured, shells are forming, and the heavy kit is not just on a purchase order—it’s landing. For a 200MW opening block, that suggests site readiness is moving in step with factory output, which is how you keep a 2026 date credible.
Timelines, capacity, and what to watch next
There’s a date and a number on the table: 2026 for the first wave, 200MW in build, on the way to 1GW. The next updates to watch are around power availability, cooling profile, and interconnect, which decide how much of that capacity is AI-ready day one.
- 200MW: current construction scope
- 1GW: total planned capacity for Stargate UAE
- 2026: planned delivery for the initial phase
- Site: within a 5GW UAE–U.S. AI Campus in Abu Dhabi
If you’re a buyer or partner mapping projects to capacity, pencil 2026 as the earliest realistic slot for onboarding workloads. Between now and then, look for signals on cluster topology, accelerator generations, and network fabric—these decide which AI jobs land first and how fast they run.
What is Stargate UAE?
It’s a planned 1GW large-scale AI infrastructure cluster in Abu Dhabi, led by Khazna Data Centers and part of a broader 5GW UAE-US AI Campus.
What’s the status right now?
Construction is underway. The first 200MW is being built on an accelerated timeline, with long-lead equipment procured and initial mechanical systems already delivered to site.
When will the first capacity go live?
G42 points to a planned 2026 delivery for the initial phase.
