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U.S. and UAE Finalize Tech Security Agreement Amid AI Expansion Plans

The United States and United Arab Emirates have finalized a technology framework agreement, expected to be signed Thursday during President Donald Trump’s final stop on his Gulf tour, according to a source familiar with the matter. The deal emphasizes mutual commitments to technology security, a key concern amid growing geopolitical tensions and the global AI arms race.

Strategic Significance:

The agreement is seen as a major diplomatic and technological milestone for the UAE, which aims to position itself as a global leader in artificial intelligence and digital innovation. For Washington, the deal strengthens control over the flow of advanced U.S. technologies, particularly AI chips, to friendly nations while keeping them out of adversarial hands like China’s.

AI Chip Context:

  • The tech pact closely follows reports that the U.S. and UAE are nearing a separate agreement allowing the UAE to import 500,000 of Nvidia’s most advanced AI chips annually starting in 2025.

  • The chips, likely from Nvidia’s Blackwell or forthcoming Rubin series, would significantly boost the UAE’s AI data center infrastructure, including projects linked to UAE-based firm G42.

  • The import deal would include provisions requiring reciprocal infrastructure investment in the U.S., reinforcing bilateral cooperation.

Broader Implications:

The finalized framework reinforces the U.S. strategy of deepening tech ties with Gulf allies while maintaining tight export controls to prevent sensitive technologies from reaching China. It also enhances the UAE’s reputation as a trusted AI development hub, backed by Western partnerships.

Neither the White House, the U.S. Commerce Department, nor the UAE or Chinese foreign ministries responded to requests for comment.

This agreement could accelerate the UAE’s emergence as a third global center for AI innovation, alongside the U.S. and China, reshaping the landscape of AI development and governance in the years to come.

U.S. Nears Deal to Allow UAE Import of 500,000 Nvidia AI Chips Annually Starting 2025

The United States is moving toward a landmark agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that would allow the import of 500,000 of Nvidia’s most advanced AI chips per year, starting in 2025, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The draft deal, still under negotiation, could significantly boost the UAE’s ambitions to become a global AI hub and represents a strategic shift in U.S. technology export policy.

Under the current version of the agreement:

  • 100,000 chips per year (20%) would be allocated to G42, a major UAE tech firm backed by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund Mubadala and chaired by national security adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

  • The remaining 400,000 chips would go to U.S. tech giants like Microsoft and Oracle, which are expected to build or expand data centers in the UAE.

The deal could triple or quadruple the AI computing power previously accessible to the UAE under Biden-era restrictions. However, one source noted that the agreement has encountered growing opposition in Washington in recent days, particularly over concerns the chips might eventually benefit China or other adversarial actors.

Strategic and Political Implications:

  • The deal would elevate the Gulf region, especially the UAE, as a third major AI power center alongside the U.S. and China.

  • The agreement reportedly includes a reciprocal clause: for every AI facility G42 builds in the UAE, it must construct a similar one in the U.S., promoting bilateral infrastructure investment.

  • The definition of what constitutes an “advanced AI chip” (e.g., Nvidia’s Blackwell or future Rubin GPUs) will be established later by a dedicated working group, which will also set security parameters.

Trump and Gulf AI Expansion:

Coinciding with the deal, former U.S. President Donald Trump, during his tour of the Gulf this week, announced $600 billion in tech commitments from Saudi Arabia, including chip deals with Nvidia, AMD, and Qualcomm. The Trump administration also plans to rescind Biden-era AI chip export restrictions, accelerating tech collaboration with Gulf nations.

Nvidia, G42, the White House, and the U.S. Commerce Department all declined to comment publicly. However, if finalized, the deal would mark one of the most significant U.S. AI technology transfers to the Middle East to date.