AI

Introduction of Digital Embassies by G42

The UAE-US AI Campus initiative, led by the Emirati technology group G42, aims to transform its computing infrastructure into a unique diplomatic tool. The company plans to offer digital embassies to foreign governments to host and secure critical data in the United Arab Emirates.

Concept and Industrialization

This concept is inspired by Estonia’s 2017 initiative when it established an extraterritorial copy of its public registers in Luxembourg to ensure state continuity in the event of a cyber or military attack. G42 seeks to industrialize this approach by providing sacred hosting of data for third countries.

Promised Benefits

The initiative is based on three promises:

• Resilience against natural disasters or cyberattacks.
• Reduction in energy and land costs compared to Europe or Asia.
• A diplomatic guarantee with a status akin to extraterritoriality.

Legal Framework

Various legal frameworks are being considered to provide a legal status to these digital embassies. A potential long-term solution is an international convention under the UN, inspired by the Vienna Convention. In the short term, bilateral agreements, similar to the 2017 Estonia-Luxembourg agreement, seem more feasible. Regional solutions could also emerge, such as a European or Gulf Cooperation Council framework, though these would face diverse existing regulations. If diplomatic recognition is not achieved, the UAE could rely on a hybrid contractual regime (certifications, audits, international arbitration) to provide technical guarantees without sovereign value.

Role of the United States

The project involves key technology partners from the United States, such as Nvidia, AMD, and Google, raising questions about the role of the US and the actual scope of immunity granted to these digital embassies.

Geopolitical Implications

Beyond commercial implications for G42, by offering to host other nations’ digital sovereignty, the UAE aims to position itself as a trusted hub in the geopolitics of data, competing with Saudi Arabia, which is investing in infrastructure and collaborating with Chinese companies like Lenovo. This represents a new diplomacy initiated through a complex commercial competition.