Korea will participate in the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) ambitious artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure development project, widely known as Stargate UAE, which is set to become one of the world's largest, the presidential office said Tuesday.

The Stargate initiative, led by U.S. companies including OpenAI, involves building AI data centers in Abu Dhabi with an initial investment exceeding 30 trillion won ($22 billion) and a maximum capacity of up to 5 gigawatts.

The two countries announced the decision after President Lee Jae Myung’s bilateral summit with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during Lee’s state visit to the Middle Eastern country.

As the project is currently moving forward with plans to operate a 200-megawatt data center next year, Korea aims to leverage its strengths in energy, batteries, eco-friendly solutions and climate-tech. The initiative is also expected to create significant opportunities for Korean AI startups and data center specialists to expand their presence in the global market, according to Korean officials.

In addition to cooperation on the Stargate project, the two countries signed seven memorandums of understanding (MOUs) aimed at strengthening partnerships across advanced industries — including nuclear technology, AI, bio health, intellectual property and space, such as joint satellite development and satellite navigation infrastructure.

President Lee Jae Myung and United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan hold a summit with officials from both countries at the presidential palace in Abu Dhabi, Tuesday (local time). Yonhap