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OpenAI Seeks $40 Billion from Saudi, UAE, and India
OpenAI is in advanced negotiations to raise a staggering $40 billion in funding through a global consortium involving Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), the UAE’s MGX, and India’s Reliance Industries. Spearheaded by Japanese investment giant SoftBank, this initiative is aimed at supporting OpenAI’s next phase of artificial intelligence development and global compute infrastructure projects.
AI Funding Push: SoftBank Leads, Others Join
SoftBank is expected to contribute a majority share in the ongoing funding round, which aims to raise $30 billion by December 2025. A subsequent $10 billion is planned by 2027. While SoftBank may underwrite up to 75% of this amount, a significant $7.5 billion is expected to come from new investors. These include sovereign wealth funds and global venture firms, with investment firms such as Coatue Management and Founders Fund reportedly contributing at least $100 million each.
Strategic players like Saudi PIF, UAE’s MGX, and India’s Reliance are anticipated to individually invest several hundred million dollars, signaling a shift in global capital allocation toward foundational AI technologies. The potential influx could push OpenAI’s valuation to approximately $260 billion.
Stargate: OpenAI’s Global Compute Backbone
A large portion of this capital will fund Stargate, OpenAI’s flagship AI infrastructure project. Stargate is envisioned as a global network of high-performance data centers built to support the next generation of OpenAI models. The first major Stargate facility—a 1-gigawatt data center—is under development in Abu Dhabi and is expected to become operational by late 2026.
Partners involved in the Stargate expansion include Oracle, G42, MGX, and others. The goal is to decentralize AI infrastructure, reducing dependency on U.S.-centric server hubs and establishing strong regional capabilities in the Middle East and Asia.
India’s Rising Role in OpenAI’s Global Strategy
India is playing an increasingly prominent role in OpenAI’s strategic roadmap. CEO Sam Altman has held several rounds of discussions with India’s IT ministry, focusing on setting up a 3-gigawatt data center in Jamnagar. The facility is intended to support regional AI development, model training, and enterprise deployments.
OpenAI also launched the OpenAI Academy India in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. This initiative provides AI training, API access, and cloud credits to nonprofits and academic institutions. Additionally, the company has introduced localized data storage options for Indian enterprise clients, complying with national data sovereignty requirements.
OpenAI’s deepening ties with India reflect a broader intent to leverage the country’s talent pool, policy support, and growing digital ecosystem.
