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The Gulf’s AI drive is in the spotlight, with CNBC reporting on the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar’s moves to channel sovereign wealth and energy revenues into large-scale AI infrastructure and chip investments to position themselves as global tech hubs. In the UAE, Abu Dhabi’s G42 and MGX are leading investments backed by Mubadala, Microsoft, and Silver Lake, with Microsoft committing USD 15.2 bn through 2029 after taking a minority stake — and a board seat — in G42.
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Aligning with America: The outlet focused on the UAE choosing the US as its main AI partner, rather than China, and gave ink to Abu Dhabi’s upcoming 5 GW Stargate AI campus as one of the world’s largest data center projects outside the US. Developed under the USD 500 bn US-UAE Stargate initiative and a USD 200 bn investment pact, the facility will use Nvidia chips under US-approved export controls to ensure oversight of advanced semiconductors.
The road ahead: “The GCC states have the capital and the leadership. They see it as strategic and are willing to have skin in the game,” said Baghdad Gherras, UAE-based venture partner at Antler. But analysts told CNBC the region’s next challenge will be building local talent and regulatory depth to match its financial strength. “The final barrier isn’t money, but execution,” said UBS analyst Ulyana Lenvalskaya.
A growing number of wealthy Chinese individuals are setting up family offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, drawn in by the UAE’s golden visa program and lighter regulatory environment, Financial Times reports. Inquiries from East Asian clients at Standard Chartered have surged over the past year, as Singapore — formerly the preferred destination for wealthy Asians — tightens residency and immigration rules, Mike Tan, Standard Chartered’s Singapore-based global head of wealth planning and family advisory, told FT, noting that family offices are often considered an easier way to secure citizenship or residency.
Dubai gains ground: The number of family-related entities in Dubai International Financial Center climbed to 1.0k in 1H 2025, up from 800 at end-2024 and 600 in 2023, with advisers attributing much of the increase to Chinese clients. Wealth managers say demand is strongest among individuals with USD 50-200 mn in assets, with many shifting real estate and capital from Singapore.
