Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has signed a major artificial intelligence agreement with OpenAI and technology firm G42. The deal will bring advanced AI tools into ADNOC’s operations and marks a new stage in the growing ties between OpenAI and the United Arab Emirates.
The agreement was signed on November 2 at the ADIPEC energy conference in Abu Dhabi. ADNOC chief executive Sultan Al Jaber said the company would become the first in the energy sector to use OpenAI’s most advanced AI technology.
The partnership aims to apply artificial intelligence across different parts of ADNOC’s business. The companies expect the technology to help solve complex problems, improve work processes and support better decisions across the energy group.
OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman attended the event and described the agreement as another step forward in the company’s relationship with the UAE. During the announcement, he also spoke about the growing link between artificial intelligence and energy supply.
Altman said energy was one of the biggest challenges facing OpenAI. He explained that the company’s most advanced models would be used to address some of ADNOC’s hardest and most valuable problems.
He also warned that the physical resources needed to power AI systems could become a major part of their overall cost. While technology companies may reduce the cost of developing and delivering AI services, large amounts of energy and computing power will still be required.
Altman said the physical limits of energy supply would play a major role in deciding how much AI could be developed and used. His comments highlight the growing connection between the global energy industry and the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence.
The announcement came as Altman met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during his visit to the UAE. His presence at ADIPEC also showed the importance of the Gulf country in OpenAI’s wider plans.
The UAE has become an important partner for the ChatGPT maker as it seeks investment and access to major AI infrastructure projects. Abu Dhabi-based investment firm MGX is among the potential investors involved in discussions around OpenAI’s fundraising plans.
OpenAI is working to secure new investment commitments ahead of a possible public market debut by rival AI company Anthropic. The fundraising effort could value OpenAI at more than $1.4 trillion, according to earlier reports citing people familiar with the matter.
The company is also involved in a major AI infrastructure project in the UAE. The first phase of the planned development will have a capacity of five gigawatts, making it one of the largest AI data centre projects outside the United States.
The project is being built by the UAE with American technology partners. It is designed to provide the computing power needed to support advanced AI systems and large-scale digital services.
The ADNOC agreement adds an important energy industry partner to OpenAI’s growing network in the country. It also reflects the UAE’s effort to combine its energy resources with investment in advanced technology.
The deal was announced during a period of uncertainty across the Gulf. Several major energy companies had changed their plans to attend ADIPEC because of security concerns.
ExxonMobil and Chevron cancelled planned trips by some executives to the UAE last week. Their decisions came as fears of a possible US attack on Iran and retaliatory action by Tehran increased pressure on regional energy markets.
US President Donald Trump said Washington would not launch an attack on Iran before the November 3 midterm elections. However, he later indicated that another military operation remained possible.
Despite those concerns, senior representatives from several other international energy companies attended the conference. Executives from BP, Italy’s Eni and Baker Hughes were among those present.
OpenAI also signed separate agreements with other Abu Dhabi-based organisations. The Abu Dhabi Media Office said the company had reached deals with sovereign wealth fund Mubadala and Inception42, a unit of G42.
Those partnerships will focus on using advanced AI tools for investment analysis, identifying business opportunities and assessing risks. The agreements could help the organisations improve how they study markets and make investment decisions.
Together, the deals show how the UAE is expanding its use of artificial intelligence across energy, finance and investment. They also strengthen OpenAI’s presence in a country that is investing heavily in data centres and advanced computing.
For ADNOC, the partnership offers a chance to bring advanced AI into one of the world’s major energy businesses. For OpenAI, it provides access to a major industrial partner and strengthens its position in the UAE’s growing technology sector.
The success of the agreement will depend on how effectively the companies apply AI to real business challenges. It also highlights a key issue for the future of the technology: access to reliable and affordable energy will be essential as AI use continues to expand.
