Viral claims suggesting free access to ChatGPT Plus for all UAE residents are misleading, despite a major AI announcement from OpenAI and the UAE government.
OpenAI confirmed that the UAE will be the first country to enable nationwide access to ChatGPT as part of a broader partnership. However, this does not include free ChatGPT Plus subscriptions, which remain priced at $20/month.
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The confusion stems from ambiguous headlines around the Stargate UAE initiative — a $1 billion project that includes building the world’s largest AI-focused data center in Abu Dhabi, set to be operational by 2026. The initiative focuses on integrating AI into national sectors like healthcare, education, and government.
For now, GPT-3.5 remains free to all UAE users, while access to GPT-4 via ChatGPT Plus still requires a paid subscription. However, as ChatGPT becomes embedded in public services, residents may benefit indirectly — even without a personal Plus plan.
