OpenAI in talks with UAE funds over up to $10bn in financing, Bloomberg reports
Version 2: New details on the reported financing emerged: a UAE syndicate including Abu Dhabi-based MGX would invest up to $10bn as part of a round of at least $30bn at a $1.4 trillion valuation, with BlackRock and existing investors named as possible participants, alongside OpenAI's earlier valuation levels, its postponed IPO and an earlier conditional Amazon investment.
In short
OpenAI is in talks with several investment funds from the United Arab Emirates, which plan to form a syndicate and invest up to $10bn, Bloomberg reported, according to Kommersant. The money could be part of a round of at least $30bn at a $1.4 trillion valuation, with BlackRock and existing investors also cited as possible participants. RIA Novosti and TASS earlier reported the talks briefly, without terms.
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OpenAI is in talks with several investment funds from the United Arab Emirates about financing, Bloomberg reported, according to Kommersant. The UAE investors, among them the Abu Dhabi-based fund MGX, plan to form a syndicate and put up to $10bn into the developer of ChatGPT, the report said. RIA Novosti and TASS had earlier reported the talks in brief, attributing them to media accounts, with TASS naming Bloomberg as its source. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to Kommersant's account of the Bloomberg report, the money could form part of a larger financing round of at least $30bn at a valuation of $1.4 trillion. The investment company BlackRock Inc may also join the group. Existing investors Thrive Capital and Andreessen Horowitz are named among other possible participants. No terms, structure or timetable were given in the earlier RIA Novosti and TASS reports. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The reported $1.4 trillion valuation is well above levels recorded in previous rounds, Kommersant said: $500bn in October 2025, $730bn in February 2026 and $852bn in June 2026. [ 3 ]
In September, OpenAI chief Sam Altman said the company's initial public offering timetable had been moved, Kommersant reported. He attributed the decision not to list in 2026 to a need to focus on safety issues and to adapt to new realities in the AI industry, the report said. [ 3 ]
Kommersant noted that OpenAI's capital-raising terms have already included obligations tied to future events. In February 2026, Amazon agreed to invest $10bn first, with a further $35bn contingent on OpenAI listing or achieving artificial general intelligence, the report said — an arrangement it cited as showing that large financing can take the form of a later conditional commitment rather than an immediate investment. [ 3 ]
None of the documents said that OpenAI, BlackRock or the UAE funds had commented on the talks, and none cited official confirmation of the reported figures. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The reports describe what would be one of the largest private financing rounds for an AI developer, drawing capital from Abu Dhabi and US asset managers into OpenAI. Because the figures come from unnamed sources cited by Bloomberg and none of the parties has commented, the size and the conditions of any deal remain unconfirmed.
Key facts
- OpenAI is discussing financing with several investment funds from the UAE, Bloomberg reported, according to Kommersant. [ 3 ]
- UAE investors including Abu Dhabi-based MGX plan to form a syndicate and put up to $10bn into OpenAI, the report said. [ 3 ]
- The funds could form part of a round of at least $30bn at a valuation of $1.4 trillion, according to the report. [ 3 ]
- BlackRock Inc may join the group, and existing investors Thrive Capital and Andreessen Horowitz are named as other possible participants. [ 3 ]
- RIA Novosti and TASS reported that OpenAI was in talks with UAE funds, with TASS naming Bloomberg and adding that BlackRock was also considering participation. [ 1 , 2 ]
- In September, OpenAI chief Sam Altman said the company's IPO timetable had been pushed back, citing a need to focus on safety, Kommersant reported. [ 3 ]
- Kommersant reported earlier valuation levels for OpenAI of $500bn in October 2025, $730bn in February 2026 and $852bn in June 2026. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- OpenAI is in talks with UAE funds about financing, as reported by RIA Novosti, TASS and Kommersant. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- BlackRock is also considering taking part in the investment, according to TASS and Kommersant. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The reports trace back to Bloomberg, which TASS and Kommersant named as their source. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether OpenAI, BlackRock, MGX or the other named funds have commented on the talks. None of the documents mentions a comment from any of the parties involved.
- The size, structure and timing of any financing, including the reported $10bn from UAE funds, the $30bn round and the $1.4 trillion valuation. These figures appear only in Kommersant's account of Bloomberg's reporting, based on unnamed sources; the other two documents give no terms.
- Whether the talks will lead to a deal or when it would be completed. The reports describe discussions in progress without a timetable or confirmation.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RIA Novosti publishes a report that OpenAI is negotiating with UAE funds and BlackRock, citing media. [ 1 ]
- TASS publishes a report, attributed to Bloomberg, that OpenAI is discussing possible financing with UAE funds, with BlackRock also considering participation. [ 2 ]
- Kommersant publishes Bloomberg's details: up to $10bn from a UAE syndicate, part of a round of at least $30bn at a $1.4 trillion valuation. [ 3 ]