Vietnam's FPT Teams Up with Trump-Linked UAE Giant G42 for AI Data Centers

Vietnam's largest IT company FPT just signed a deal with UAE's G42 to build AI data centers. But this isn't just another tech partnership. G42 is backed by the world's second-wealthiest family and has been strengthening ties with President Trump's administration.

From Coffee Shops to AI Infrastructure

FPT, known to many Vietnamese as the parent company of Highlands Coffee, is making a bold pivot. Chairman Truong Gia Binh told Nikkei the company plans to launch the facility "in the near future." The broader vision includes a $2 billion data center in Ho Chi Minh City.

This partnership reflects more than business opportunism. G42 operates at the intersection of UAE state interests and global AI ambitions. The company previously faced U.S. scrutiny over Chinese connections but has since repositioned itself closer to Western capital and, notably, Trump's circle.

Southeast Asia's AI Infrastructure Race

Vietnam is rapidly evolving from a manufacturing hub to an AI technology center. FPT and Viettel are collaborating on domestic chip value chains, while Foxconn's subsidiary aims to double its Vietnam revenue in 2026 riding the AI wave.

Qualcomm and Vietnam's Vingroup division recently debuted industrial robots at CES. The country is positioning itself as a chip design niche player, leveraging lower costs and growing technical expertise.

But this transformation comes with geopolitical complexity. As Middle Eastern capital flows into Southeast Asian tech infrastructure, traditional U.S.-China competition faces new variables.

The Bigger Picture: New AI Alliances

This deal represents a broader trend: non-aligned countries building AI infrastructure partnerships outside traditional power blocs. Vietnam gets capital and technology transfer. The UAE gets a strategic foothold in a fast-growing market.

For investors, this signals diversification opportunities beyond U.S. and Chinese AI infrastructure plays. For policymakers, it highlights how AI development is reshaping global tech alliances.