US President Donald Trump has brokered a deal that will see the creation of the largest AI campus outside of the United States to be established in the United Arab Emirates. The announcement was made during Trump’s whistle-stop tour of the Middle East, where he visited Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. This tour has been marked by a series of significant agreements, with a staggering $200 billion worth of deals being made in the UAE alone.
AI has emerged as the central theme in these discussions, and the announcement of the AI Campus in Abu Dhabi is being viewed as a seismic shift in the region’s technological landscape. This campus is set to become the largest of its kind outside the US, positioning the UAE as a key player in the global AI arena.
One of the most notable aspects of this agreement is the enhanced access it provides the UAE to advanced AI chips. This move is strategically significant, as it aims to curb the influence of Chinese technology firms in the region. Although specific details about the AI chips included in the datacenters have not been disclosed, reports suggest that the UAE could import up to 500,000 of Nvidia’s most advanced AI chips annually, starting later this year.
This agreement represents a major win for the UAE, which has been navigating a complex relationship between its long-time ally, the US, and its largest trading partner, China. The balance of these relationships is crucial for the UAE as it seeks to position itself as a technological hub in the Middle East.
A key component of the agreement is the establishment of a 10-square-mile (25.9 square kilometers) AI campus in Abu Dhabi, designed to support AI datacenters with a power capacity of 5 gigawatts. This ambitious project will be spearheaded by G42, a state-backed firm in Abu Dhabi. However, it is important to note that American companies will operate the datacenters and provide American-managed cloud services throughout the region, as emphasized by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
In addition to the datacenters, the agreement highlights the involvement of major tech players. Chip company Qualcomm is set to work on an AI-related engineering center, while Amazon Web Services (AWS), the cloud division of Amazon, will collaborate with local partners to enhance cybersecurity and promote cloud adoption in the region. This multifaceted approach not only strengthens the technological infrastructure of the UAE but also fosters a collaborative environment for innovation.
The implications of this deal extend beyond mere economic benefits. By establishing a significant AI presence in the UAE, the US and its allies are reinforcing their influence in a region that is increasingly becoming a battleground for technological supremacy. The focus on AI is not just about economic growth; it also reflects a broader strategy to ensure that advanced technologies are developed and managed in a way that aligns with democratic values and security interests.
As the UAE embarks on this ambitious project, the world will be watching closely. The success of the AI campus could set a precedent for future collaborations between the US and its allies in the tech sector, potentially reshaping the landscape of global technology and innovation.
