Huawei Technologies Co. is reportedly attempting to export limited quantities of its Ascend 910B AI chips to markets including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Malaysia, despite facing production constraints. The company is offering a few thousand units of its older-generation 910B processors and has engaged potential buyers such as the Mohamed bin Zayed University of AI in the UAE, though no deals have been finalized amid limited interest.
This move reflects the impact of US export controls that have split the global AI chip market. Since being added to the US Entity List in 2019, Huawei has developed alternative technologies and supply chains, reserving its more advanced 910C chips for domestic firms while pushing older models abroad. The restrictions have accelerated China’s drive for semiconductor self-sufficiency.
The Middle East has emerged as a key arena in the US-China tech rivalry. Huawei’s outreach targets markets where American companies like Nvidia and AMD have secured major AI chip deals, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia investing heavily in American technology infrastructure to date.
