As-salamu alaykum - Abu Dhabi's Stargate AI campus is starting to take shape
As-salamu alaykum - quick update on some tech and local headlines, and a few other bits I found interesting.
Main story: G42 says construction on Stargate UAE is moving fast. The plan is a 1-gigawatt AI cluster, with the whole thing aimed to be finished within about three years. Announced in May alongside partners like OpenAI, Oracle, Nvidia, Cisco and SoftBank, this project is being built by Khazna Data Centres as part of the larger 5GW UAE–US AI Campus in Abu Dhabi. They’re fast-tracking the first 200 megawatts and expecting the initial delivery around 2026.
Khazna’s CEO, Hassan Al Naqbi, said the first phase is already underway - the site covers roughly 10 square miles and they’re not just putting up data centres but planning an entire AI ecosystem with community, industry, R&D and logistics in mind. Over the next 18–24 months they expect the first operational campus to be ready to show partners and stakeholders, and the team is working with a design-to-build approach. Civil and architectural work is well advanced, MEP systems are being finalised, key modular parts are in production, long-lead equipment has been procured, and the first mechanical deliveries have arrived on site. Mr Al Naqbi stressed how quickly things have moved in just a year - pretty impressive, insha'Allah.
Other quick headlines and notes (short and casual):
- Sports: Chelsea beat Liverpool 2–0 (Willian 13', Ross Barkley 64').
- Boxing record snippet: Total fights 32, wins 28 (26 by KO), losses 4.
- Cars: A few performance specs floating around - a 3.8L twin-turbo flat-six putting out about 650hp and 800Nm, an EV+V8 combo around 920hp, and a 6.5L V12 with ~819hp. Price ranges mentioned from roughly Dh796,600 up to Dh1.7m depending on model.
- Quick history notes on the UAE: timeline highlights from 1970–1971 - talks about Bahrain and Qatar independence, meetings between the rulers, and the formal creation of the UAE on December 2 with Sheikh Zayed chosen as President.
- Company highlights: startups like Yeepeey (e-grocery in Dubai) and Thndr (FinTech from Egypt with a base in Abu Dhabi) - small teams, early funding, plans to grow in the region.
- Culture & picks: Favourite holiday spot mentioned was Turkey (good animal care), favourite film The Ring, favourite book The Lord of the Rings, and someone DJs rock in Dubai - casual personal tastes popping up around the page.
- Events: a music line-up list appeared (bands and set times), and a few opinion pieces on climate, gender roles, and international affairs were referenced.
That’s the gist - mostly the Stargate build moving quickly and other assorted local tech, sport and culture snippets. JazakAllah khair for reading, and insha'Allah I’ll share more updates as they come.
https://www.thenationalnews.co