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SoftBank Seeks Up to 100 Billion Dollars From Gulf Investors for AI Expansion
SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son is reportedly seeking to raise up to $100 billion from Gulf investors to finance a new artificial intelligence investment fund. According to the Financial Times, the proposed fund would acquire companies and improve their operations using AI and other advanced technologies. The fundraising effort comes as SoftBank expands its investments in OpenAI and strengthens its broader AI strategy.
By Finblage Editorial Desk
4:30 pm
9 October 2026
SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son is seeking to raise up to $100 billion from investors in the Gulf region to support a new wave of artificial intelligence investments, the Financial Times reported on October 9, 2026, citing people familiar with the matter.
According to the report, Son has held discussions in recent weeks with senior figures, including in the United Arab Emirates, regarding the potential fundraising. The proposed capital would be used to establish an investment fund focused on acquiring companies and improving their operations through artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies. The fundraising plans have not been officially confirmed by SoftBank. Reuters reported that it could not independently verify the details and that SoftBank had not responded to a request for comment.
The reported initiative comes as SoftBank accelerates its investment strategy in artificial intelligence. On October 1, the Japanese investment conglomerate announced the completion of its $30 billion investment in OpenAI as part of its commitment to the AI company's latest fundraising round. SoftBank has emerged as one of OpenAI's major financial backers under Son's strategy of building a substantial presence across the AI ecosystem.
SoftBank has also raised $11.1 billion through a high-yield corporate bond sale, according to Reuters, to support its significant investment commitments in the AI sector. The reported plan to secure additional capital from Gulf investors could provide another potential funding source for Son's broader investment ambitions.
The proposed fund would focus not only on investing in artificial intelligence companies but also on acquiring businesses and using AI and other advanced technologies to improve their operational performance. This approach would extend SoftBank's strategy beyond conventional technology investments towards applying AI across a wider range of businesses.
However, the proposed $100 billion fundraising remains a reported plan, and its final size, structure and investment timeline have not been confirmed. If pursued at the scale reported, the initiative would represent a major expansion of SoftBank's efforts to finance AI adoption and business transformation globally.
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