Microsoft & Blackrock plan to sign $30 billion AI investment in UAE’s MGX to build data centres

The initiative, which involves the United Arab Emirates’ MGX investment vehicle, aims to support the booming AI industry by building the necessary infrastructure. Over time, the private equity capital will be leveraged into as much as $100 billion in potential investments, according to the announcement made on Tuesday.

The collaboration marks one of the largest funding efforts for AI infrastructure to date, signalling the increasing importance of data warehouses and energy projects to power AI applications. This joint venture highlights the need for substantial investment to meet the growing demands of AI-driven technologies, which are transforming industries worldwide.

A global push for AI data centres
At the heart of this initiative is the Global AI Infrastructure Investment Partnership, which has been in the works for several months. BlackRock’s CEO, Larry Fink, emphasised the scale of the investment required, stating that financing the global buildout of data centres will demand trillions of dollars over time. The collaboration between capital markets, technology firms, and investors is seen as essential to support this rapid growth in AI infrastructure.

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The partnership involves multiple players, including Global Infrastructure Partners, which is in the process of being acquired by BlackRock for approximately $12.5 billion, and Abu Dhabi’s MGX, a newly created vehicle focused on AI investments.

NVIDIA, the renowned chipmaker, is also playing a key role by offering its expertise in AI data centres and factories. NVIDIA’s contributions include providing essential technology and networking components to accelerate the development of AI systems.

Energy projects form a critical component of the planned investments, particularly in the US, where the demand for power-hungry AI data centres is soaring. A portion of the funds will also be allocated to US partner countries, reflecting the global nature of this AI expansion. The need for additional investors is anticipated, and Fink expressed confidence that raising the capital won’t be a challenge, given the strong interest from pension funds and insurers in long-term infrastructure investments.

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Expanding AI capabilities and power infrastructure
As part of the broader strategy, Microsoft has already invested $13 billion in AI research through its partnership with OpenAI, the company behind innovative AI technologies. Microsoft has been incorporating AI features across its product lines, and this new venture further underscores the company’s commitment to AI-driven growth.

However, the tech giant has faced constraints in serving its AI customers due to a lack of data centre capacity and chips, driving the need for increased investment in infrastructure.

The surge in demand for AI services is also putting pressure on energy providers across the US. Electricity consumption by AI data centres could increase up to tenfold by 2030, as facilities require more power to meet the growing computational needs.

In response, energy companies are delaying the retirement of coal and gas plants while planning new gas projects and expanding renewable energy sources like solar and wind farms.

Microsoft has been in discussions with OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, about expanding computing infrastructure for AI products, indicating that the race to meet AI’s growing power and infrastructure needs is well underway. This partnership between Microsoft, BlackRock, and MGX could serve as a critical step in supporting the rapid expansion of AI technologies globally.