A recent announcement by OpenAI and the United Arab Emirates has triggered a wave of speculation and excitement across the country, with widespread claims suggesting that all UAE residents would soon enjoy free access to ChatGPT Plus — the premium version of the popular AI tool.
However, a closer look reveals that the reality is somewhat different.
The UAE is set to become the first nation to enable nationwide access to ChatGPT, OpenAI confirmed earlier this month. The move is part of an ambitious partnership aimed at integrating the tool into critical sectors such as education, healthcare, energy, and government services.
But contrary to some media reports, OpenAI has not stated that ChatGPT Plus will be made freely available to the general public.
The announcement forms part of the broader Stargate UAE initiative, a multibillion-dollar project to establish the world’s largest AI-focused data centre in Abu Dhabi. The 10-square-mile facility, expected to be operational by 2026, is being developed in collaboration with leading technology partners including G42, Oracle, NVIDIA, and Cisco.
The centre will run on a combination of nuclear, solar, and gas energy and aims to supply immense computing power across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia — a region that accounts for nearly half of the world’s population.
Despite the project’s significant scope and future potential, the confusion stems from ambiguous headlines that circulated in local and international media outlets, many of which interpreted the announcement to mean that all UAE residents would receive free access to ChatGPT Plus.
Presently, OpenAI’s free version, powered by GPT-3.5, remains accessible to users in the UAE. However, the subscription-based ChatGPT Plus — which offers access to GPT-4 and other advanced features — continues to be priced at $20 per month.
Government officials and OpenAI have not issued any further clarification to suggest that this pricing model will change for individual users in the UAE.
Nevertheless, residents are likely to see ChatGPT tools increasingly embedded in digital government services, educational platforms, and healthcare systems, which may offer indirect access to the technology without requiring a personal subscription.
Analysts say that while the public may not yet benefit from free premium access, the implications of the partnership are far-reaching. “The Stargate UAE project marks a critical step in the country’s AI ambitions,” said a regional technology expert. “This is more about creating infrastructure, AI sovereignty, and long-term leadership than about individual user benefits — at least for now.”
The development marks the first time OpenAI is building such a facility outside the United States, underlining the strategic importance of the UAE in the global AI landscape.
