In a significant shift in the U.S. technological export policy toward the Middle East, sources have revealed that Washington is currently considering allowing the United Arab Emirates to import over one million advanced chips from U.S.-based tech giant NVIDIA, a global leader in AI processors.
According to these sources, the U.S. plan would permit the UAE to acquire 500,000 NVIDIA chips annually until 2027—a total of 2.5 million chips over five years. Around 20% of these chips would be allocated to Abu Dhabi-based AI company G42, while the remainder would go to American companies planning to establish data centers in the Gulf state. Among these companies, OpenAI is reportedly exploring the possibility of launching a major data center in the UAE, with an announcement expected soon.
Lifting Restrictions and Reframing Geopolitical Priorities
This potential deal marks a departure from the restrictions previously imposed by the Biden administration, which aimed to limit the export of advanced AI technologies, particularly over fears of technology leakage to China. Notably, the quantity allocated to G42 alone would be four times the amount previously permitted under those rules.
These developments come as part of a broader review of U.S. tech export policies, with Washington now seeking to strike a balance between national security concerns and the need to maintain its global leadership in innovation—especially as the tech race with China intensifies.
A Strategic Opportunity for the UAE
If the deal moves forward, it would represent a major milestone in the UAE’s journey to establish itself as a regional and global hub for artificial intelligence. It would also strengthen the country’s partnerships with major American firms and accelerate the growth of its data center and cloud services infrastructure, in alignment with its national AI strategy.
At the same time, this move signals growing U.S. recognition of the importance of building strong technological alliances with trusted partners in the Middle East—particularly in a world where cutting-edge technologies are increasingly central to geopolitical competition.
