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In a world-first move, the United Arab Emirates is giving every citizen free access to ChatGPT Plus—the $20/month premium version of OpenAI’s AI assistant. No signups, no fees, just full access to cutting-edge AI for all.
Powered by a UAE–OpenAI Partnership: This national rollout stems from a collaboration aimed at bringing frontier AI technology into everyday life across the Emirates.
Breaking the $20 Barrier: The monthly fee for ChatGPT Plus can be a hurdle. The UAE’s initiative removes that obstacle entirely—at scale.
Unprecedented in Scope: While OpenAI and others have made strides in AI access for education, no program to date matches this nationwide deployment.
The Stargate UAE Project: As part of the broader partnership, the UAE is also building a massive 1GW data center, starting with 200MW in 2026, to power future AI development.
This isn’t just a giveaway—it’s a strategic move. By making advanced AI universally accessible, the UAE is ensuring its citizens become AI-literate and future-ready.
It also sets a precedent: as AI becomes essential, national access might become the next global race. Other countries may soon follow, forming alliances with AI leaders to keep their populations competitive in an AI-first world.