Key Points
- G42 has held exploratory talks with potential investors, with no final decision on the financing’s size or structure.
- The Abu Dhabi group spans cloud computing, data centers and AI applications, while developing a five-gigawatt campus.
- A transaction would extend Abu Dhabi state-linked entities’ push to attract external funding for technology and investment.
The latest
Abu Dhabi artificial intelligence company G42 has held exploratory talks with potential investors about raising billions of dollars, people familiar with the matter said, as state-linked entities across the emirate increasingly tap external financing. The discussions remain preliminary, with no final decision on the size or structure of a transaction. A G42 representative declined to comment on the plans, saying the company remains focused on its long-term growth strategy. The people asked not to be identified because the information is confidential.
Details
- Investor roster: The company already counts Abu Dhabi wealth fund Mubadala Investment Co., US private equity firm Silver Lake and Microsoft Corp. among its investors. The three represent a mix of sovereign, private equity and technology backers already supporting G42 before any potential new round.
- Technology portfolio: Established to lead Abu Dhabi’s first major move into technology, G42 has expanded across cloud computing, data centers and AI applications. It has also formed partnerships with some of the world’s largest technology companies, building a broader role in the emirate’s push into advanced computing.
- Five-gigawatt campus: The company is building the UAE-US AI Campus in Abu Dhabi, a project planned with five gigawatts of capacity. The facility will use semiconductors supplied by Nvidia Corp., tying G42’s expansion to large-scale infrastructure and access to the advanced chips required for artificial intelligence workloads.
- Chip access: A recent move by the Trump administration to ease export restrictions removed the need for the UAE government and certain approved commercial ventures, including G42, to obtain a US license when purchasing cutting-edge chips. The change directly affects access to key computing hardware.
- MGX role: Abu Dhabi already invests heavily in artificial intelligence and related infrastructure through MGX, which is overseen by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Mubadala and G42 are founding partners in the investment vehicle, which aims to deploy as much as $10 billion in the sector each year.
- External financing: Abu Dhabi’s wealth funds oversee almost $2 trillion in assets, and the city has traditionally been viewed as an exporter of capital. A G42 transaction would align with a developing pattern in which state-linked groups use the emirate’s financial network to attract funding from outside investors.
Background
MGX recently raised $49 billion for one of the largest funds dedicated to artificial intelligence deals. Mubadala Capital is also preparing to raise third-party capital in its home market for the first time, extending a model it has previously used abroad. Both moves provide context for G42’s exploratory discussions.
What’s next
The next indicator will be whether G42 approves a transaction and settles its size, structure and investor lineup. Any subsequent announcement would also clarify how the company plans to deploy the proceeds, an allocation that has yet to be determined.