The United Arab Emirates and the United States have signed a groundbreaking agreement to establish the largest artificial intelligence (AI) campus outside the United States, marking a significant milestone in their technological partnership. The agreement, finalized during U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Abu Dhabi on Thursday, signals a major shift in the UAE’s efforts to bolster its AI infrastructure while maintaining strategic relations with both the U.S. and China.
The AI campus, set to be built in Abu Dhabi, will span 10 square miles (25.9 square kilometers) and include data centres with a power capacity of 5 gigawatts. The campus will be developed by the UAE’s state-backed firm G42, but U.S. companies will operate the data centres and provide cloud services across the region. This agreement also allows the UAE to import up to 500,000 of Nvidia’s most advanced AI chips annually, starting in 2025, which will enhance its ability to scale its AI ambitions.
The U.S. has historically been cautious about exporting advanced AI technologies, particularly semiconductors, due to security concerns regarding China’s potential access. However, under the Trump administration, the UAE has gained greater access to these technologies, contingent upon strict security measures and the operation of U.S.-managed data centres. This collaboration underscores the UAE’s push to become a global AI leader and its ability to balance ties between its largest trading partner, China, and its key ally, the U.S.
In addition to Nvidia, Qualcomm and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are also involved in the project, with Qualcomm contributing to the creation of an AI-related engineering centre and AWS working on cybersecurity and cloud adoption in the region.
The agreement marks a strategic recalibration of the UAE’s technology policy, aligning with U.S. standards in areas such as compute, cloud, and chip supply chains, while continuing to maintain robust trade relations with China. The UAE’s investments in AI infrastructure, including its stake in U.S. companies like OpenAI and Microsoft’s $1.5 billion investment in G42, are expected to play a key role in its future technological landscape.
