UAE to Become the First Country in the World to Provide ChatGPT Plus Free to All Citizens
The United Arab Emirates is becoming a pioneer in democratizing artificial intelligence by becoming the first nation in the world to purchase ChatGPT Plus subscriptions, valued at $20 per month, for its entire population. This initiative means that all UAE citizens will have access to the premium AI service at no additional cost to them.
The project stems from a partnership between the United Arab Emirates and OpenAI and aims to give local residents greater access to the latest artificial intelligence technologies. The $20 monthly fee for ChatGPT Plus represents a significant barrier for many users seeking access to the premium version of this AI service, which the UAE is now removing for its citizens. Although OpenAI and other major players in AI, including Anthropic, are leading efforts to democratize access to artificial intelligence, particularly in education, none of the initiatives to date has achieved this scale.
The partnership between the UAE and OpenAI also includes a second key component—the construction of the 1-gigawatt Stargate UAE data center in Abu Dhabi. The facility is expected to begin operations in 2026 with an initial capacity of 200 megawatts. By providing universal access to ChatGPT Plus, the United Arab Emirates is positioning itself as a pioneer in public access to artificial intelligence and ensuring that its citizens become proficient in AI technologies in a world increasingly driven by artificial intelligence. This initiative is likely to encourage other countries to explore similar partnerships with AI service providers to keep their populations competitive.
