Investors from the United Arab Emirates are in discussions to lead a new funding round of up to USD 30 billion for OpenAI alongside US investment firm Coatue, according to CNBC reporting cited by EnterpriseAM. The ChatGPT maker is seeking a pre-money valuation of USD 1.25 trillion.
The USD 1.25 trillion target follows an initial pitch of approximately USD 1.4 trillion, which was adjusted after pushback from some investors, according to the Financial Times. Even at the adjusted valuation, the figure remains higher than the USD 852 billion valuation OpenAI achieved in its USD 122 billion round in March 2026.
Abu Dhabi-based tech investment firm MGX, backed by Mubadala and G42, is in talks regarding a further investment after co-leading the March round. MGX also holds a position in competitor Anthropic.
Beyond capital, OpenAI is seeking a commercial agreement to secure additional computing capacity in the UAE, CNBC reported. Abu Dhabi officials favor such infrastructure integration as part of a national strategy to own stakes in major global AI labs and develop local capacity.
The funding discussions come amid heightened competition for capital among leading AI firms, with Anthropic filing an S-1 for an initial public offering and Meta pursuing plans to raise approximately USD 95 billion through rolling equity offerings.
Sources
- EnterpriseAM · 2026-10-26
