OpenAI Building Localised ChatGPT for UAE Government with G42

OpenAI Teams Up with G42 on UAE-Specific ChatGPT

OpenAI is developing a localised version of ChatGPT tailored for the United Arab Emirates government, working in collaboration with Abu Dhabi-based technology conglomerate G42. The specialised chatbot would be capable of communicating fluently in regional Arabic dialects and may incorporate content filters aligned with the country's political and legal framework.

How It Works: Fine-Tuning, Not Rebuilding

Rather than retraining an entirely new model from scratch, which would be prohibitively expensive, OpenAI is using fine-tuning techniques. This involves adding post-training modifications to the existing ChatGPT model, enabling it to better handle local Arabic dialects by leveraging language samples already present in the pre-training data. The global version of ChatGPT will remain available in the UAE, but will be adapted to comply with local laws, with users receiving notifications when content triggers restrictions.

The Political Dimension

The project raises significant questions about AI localisation and governance. Sources familiar with the initiative say the UAE has expressed interest in having the chatbot project a political line consistent with the monarchy's positions. While specific details remain under negotiation, the arrangement represents one of the first instances of a major AI company developing a government-aligned version of its flagship product.

G42 and the Broader AI Partnership

G42, chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE President's brother and National Security Advisor, has become central to the country's AI ambitions. The two companies formalised their partnership in late 2023, and the relationship has deepened considerably since. In May 2025, they announced plans for Stargate UAE, a massive data centre in Abu Dhabi capable of delivering up to one gigawatt of computing power, with its first two hundred megawatt phase expected to complete in the third quarter of 2026.

Deep Financial Ties

Abu Dhabi's MGX, a sovereign AI investment platform founded jointly by Mubadala Investment Company and G42, participated in a six point six billion dollar secondary share sale in October 2025 that valued OpenAI at approximately five hundred billion dollars. MGX is also an investor in Stargate, the planned one hundred billion dollar network of US data centres being developed by OpenAI and SoftBank.