OpenAI is reportedly sounding out Middle East investors as Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman explores a funding round that could exceed $50 billion.
Altman has held private talks in recent weeks with state-linked investors in Abu Dhabi as part of early efforts to assemble the financing, Bloomberg reported.
The ChatGPT maker is weighing a raise that could value the company at about $750 billion to more than $800 billion, according to the report, though discussions are still preliminary and terms remain fluid.
OpenAI already has regional ties, including funding from Abu Dhabi-based MGX and a data-center partnership with G42 in the UAE.
The outreach underscores the Middle East’s growing clout in AI investing. Elon Musk’s xAI recently raised $20 billion with backing from Qatar Investment Authority and MGX, part of a broader surge of Gulf capital into AI, chips and data centers as oil-rich states diversify their economies.
📌 Why it matters:
A Gulf-backed OpenAI mega-round would rank among the largest private fundraises ever, highlighting the Middle East’s rise as a pivotal source of capital for frontier AI.
📌 Bottom line:
As AI development becomes ever more expensive, Gulf sovereign wealth is turning into a decisive force in shaping who leads the global AI race.
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