UAE Becomes Home to Nvidia’s First AI Tech Centre in the Middle East

Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII) has partnered with US tech giant, Nvidia, to launch a joint research hub in the United Arab Emirates, focused on next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics development. The facility, announced on Monday, marks the first Nvidia AI Technology Center in the Middle East. TII has been working closely with Nvidia for several years, using its chips to train proprietary large language models. The new lab will merge TII’s multidisciplinary research capabilities with Nvidia’s advanced computing power and AI models. According to Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, the partnership will grant the institute access to Nvidia’s Thor chip, a powerful edge GPU designed for advanced robotics applications. The chip will be used to develop technologies including humanoids, four-legged robots, and robotic arms, significantly advancing TII’s robotics research. The hub will host teams from both organisations, with additional staff to be recruited for the project. TII serves as the applied research arm of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), a government entity spearheading Abu Dhabi’s push to become a global AI hub. The UAE has invested billions of dollars into AI and digital infrastructure, leveraging its strategic partnerships with the United States to secure access to advanced technologies. Earlier this year, the UAE signed a multi-billion-dollar agreement with US firms to develop one of the world’s largest data centre hubs in Abu Dhabi, featuring state-of-the-art Nvidia chips. However, the deal has faced delays amid concerns over the UAE’s ties to China.