France and the United Arab Emirates have teamed up for a massive UAE france ai project: a one-gigawatt AI data centre to be built in France. The project took shape after a February meeting between Emmanuel Macron and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the presidents of France and the UAE. They agreed on a broad partnership, backed by €30–50 billion in funding. The new data centre is a key part of the growing wave of UAE AI investment, showing how serious both countries are about leading in AI Middle East and European tech.
At the heart of this UAE france ai collaboration is a goal to boost AI capacity fast. The UAE’s MGX investment fund is leading the charge, joined by France’s Bpifrance and major tech players like Mistral AI, Nvidia, and Électricité de France (EDF). Plans cover more than just the data centre. They also include AI training, chip sourcing, and virtual data embassies. This shows how far technology in UAE has come.
France will power the site using its strong nuclear energy supply, which already provides around 65% of the country’s electricity. Over 30 locations across the country are under consideration for this project. French officials are aiming for clean, fast-deployable AI infrastructure that stays climate-friendly.
UAE France AI project aims to reshape global tech leadership
For the UAE, this marks another bold step in UAE AI investment. It’s also backing a separate project—Stargate UAE—with OpenAI. That one-gigawatt cluster is under construction in Abu Dhabi, and the first 200 megawatts should be ready by late 2026. With these efforts, the UAE continues to position itself as a true AI Middle East leader.
Meanwhile, France gets a big boost to its AI independence. This technology in UAE-linked venture is part of a wider €109 billion plan to build AI muscle across Europe. Big names like Brookfield and UAE investors are involved. The ultimate goal? Compete with the U.S. and China by rolling out powerful AI clusters by 2028.
Announcements on early investments are expected at the upcoming Choose France summit. Site choices and construction updates should follow soon after. If all stays on track, the new centre will go live in 2028—offering serious power for AI research, training, and cloud computing.
The UAE france ai Alliance isn’t just another tech deal—it’s a clear sign of where UAE AI investment, European ambition, and AI Middle East progress are headed.
