OpenAI is nearing a funding round of up to $30 billion at a $1.25 trillion pre-money valuation, led by investors from the United Arab Emirates and Coatue, ahead of a potential 2027 IPO. * Funding Round: OpenAI aims to secure investor commitments by the end of next week, although the final amount remains undetermined. The $1.25T valuation excludes the new capital raised. * IPO Plans: The financing is being positioned as a bridge to a potential public listing. CFO Sarah Friar has told employees an IPO is likely in 2027, and OpenAI has already filed confidentially. * UAE Expansion: Alongside the investment, OpenAI is negotiating a commercial agreement to secure additional computing capacity from the UAE to support its expanding AI operations. * Market Conditions: The fundraising comes amid rising borrowing costs and concerns over AI infrastructure financing, including recent credit-market pressure surrounding CoreWeave 22-OCT-2026 04:24 PM ET