On 22 May 2025 OpenAI announced the Stargate UAE partnership-a one-gigawatt data-center project in Abu Dhabi plus a promise of “nation-wide access to ChatGPT, including advanced capabilities.” Two days later the UAE’s AI minister said residents would get “Plus-level service.” By 27 May headlines everywhere read: “UAE rolls out ChatGPT Plus for free!”
I read that headline and paused: Free ChatGPT Plus for an entire country?
Look closer and you’ll see the fine print. Officials say “nationwide access,” but they have not confirmed a personal $0 subscription.
At the same time, Google introduced AI Ultra-a package that costs $249.99 per month. The contrast is clear: in one region, advanced AI may cost nothing; elsewhere, it is a major expense.
Infrastructure and government support
Large projects such as Stargate UAE show how much public investment now shapes the AI landscape. When governments fund data centers, cheap electricity, and local talent programs, three things happen:
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Local ecosystems grow fast. Developers, startups, and universities cluster around low-cost compute and generous credits.
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Global supply chains shift. Companies that rely on AI may move operations-or at least their AI workloads-to regions where running models is cheaper.
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Market competition widens. Businesses in “high-support” zones can launch products sooner and at lower cost, reaching global customers before rivals in higher-priced regions can react.
For small businesses everywhere, these policies matter even if you never open an office in Abu Dhabi. They influence pricing, talent migration, and the pace of innovation you’re up against in search results, ad auctions, and product features.
The support a country gives to data centers, electricity, and training can tilt the playing field for every company competing online.
