NVIDIA's first AI development center in the Middle East is here!

NVIDIA has partnered with the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) in Abu Dhabi to establish the first NVIDIA AI Technology Center in the Middle East, aimed at jointly developing next-generation artificial intelligence models and robotic platforms, marking a key step for the chip giant's expansion in the region.

According to a statement released by TII on Monday, the joint research center will combine TII's multidisciplinary research capabilities with NVIDIA's powerful AI models and computing power. TII CEO Najwa Aaraj revealed in an interview that the institute will utilize NVIDIA's dedicated "Thor" chip to advance its research and development in areas such as humanoid robots, quadrupedal robots, and robotic arms.

This collaboration is part of the UAE government's efforts to become a global player in AI. As a major oil exporter, the UAE has invested billions of dollars in AI in recent years, hoping to leverage its close relationship with the United States to gain access to advanced technology.

Focus on "Thor" Chip and Robotics R&D

One of the key technological highlights of this collaboration is the adoption of NVIDIA's "Thor" chip. TII CEO Najwa Aaraj stated:

"This will be a new chip that we are about to put into use... It is specifically designed to support the development of advanced robotic systems."

The joint laboratory will focus on multiple cutting-edge fields. In addition to achieving breakthroughs in specific robotic projects such as humanoid robots, quadrupedal robots, and robotic arms, both parties will also explore the applications of AI in areas such as climate, energy, and genomics. The statement also noted that specific robotic innovation use cases have been planned in industries such as transportation and logistics.

UAE's AI Ambitions

This collaboration is an important component of the UAE's strategy to become a global player in AI. As a major oil exporter, the UAE has invested billions of dollars in AI in recent years, seeking to leverage its close relationship with the United States to gain technological access.

According to previous media reports, during U.S. President Trump's visit to the Gulf region in May this year, the UAE signed a multi-billion dollar agreement to plan the construction of one of the world's largest data center hubs in Abu Dhabi, utilizing U.S. technology, including the most advanced NVIDIA chips.

Najwa Aaraj revealed that TII has been closely collaborating with NVIDIA for some time, and TII has been using NVIDIA chips to train its own language models. Discussions about the joint laboratory began about a year ago, and the center will welcome teams from both sides and will specifically recruit more staff for the project.

This long-term collaborative foundation provides solid support for the establishment of the new laboratory and indicates that cooperation between the two parties in the fields of AI and robotics technology will further deepen