OpenAI has enabled inference residency in the UAE, making it the first market in the Middle East and North Africa where ChatGPT Enterprise and Edu customers can keep both data storage and model processing within national borders.
The service processes prompts, files and conversations on GPUs located in the UAE. It is available to eligible customers with UAE data residency already enabled, and covers conversations, uploaded files, Custom GPT content, ChatGPT Memory, Code Interpreter artefacts, image-generation inputs and outputs, as well as backups and replicas.
OpenAI said the UAE joins the United States and Europe as only the third region where it offers inference residency. The capability currently supports GPT-5.2, while some features, including image generation, internal search, ChatGPT Work and Improved Memory, are unavailable for UAE-resident workspaces. Standard saved memories and Advanced Voice remain available where supported.
The guarantee does not cover every function. CPU-based services such as authentication, routing and analytics may still operate globally, while third-party apps, MCP servers and web-search providers follow their own residency terms.
The launch follows OpenAI’s November 2025 rollout of UAE data residency. The company said its UAE user base tripled over the past year, with adoption particularly strong among users aged 18 to 34. Data residency remains free for ChatGPT Enterprise and Education customers.
Source: Middle East AI News
