Donald Trump’s recent visit to the Middle East was marked by a blend of a high-profile entourage, including billionaire tech leaders, and significant business agreements aimed at reshaping the global dynamics of artificial intelligence (AI). During the visit, particularly in Abu Dhabi, Trump revealed partnerships between unnamed U.S. companies and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to establish the largest AI datacenter cluster outside the United States.
This initiative aims to bolster the UAE’s capabilities in AI, with partnerships involving the Emirati company G42, which will help build five gigawatts of AI computing power. Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasized the importance of this move in positioning the UAE as a key player in advanced research and sustainable development.
In parallel, shortly before Trump’s announcement, Saudi Arabia launched Humain, an AI investment firm backed by the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund, securing agreements with major U.S. tech companies like Nvidia, AMD, Qualcomm, and AWS. These partnerships are designed to create significant AI infrastructure, with the Saudi deal with Nvidia alone involving hundreds of thousands of advanced GPUs, which could empower the kingdom to create leading-edge AI models.
Trump’s speech in Riyadh highlighted the potential for deals worth hundreds of billions between U.S. and Saudi firms, focusing on infrastructure, technology, and defense. This sort of collaboration could elevate the roles of both Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the evolving global tech landscape, especially as they seek to diversify their economies beyond oil dependency.
While building AI infrastructure, the U.S. also aims to solidify its techno-influence amid rising competition from China. The recent reversal of a Biden-era regulation on AI chip sales reflects this strategy, as it aims to prevent nations from shifting towards Chinese tech. This regulatory shift could facilitate greater access to American technology by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, thus promoting alignment with U.S. interests.
However, the deepening ties between the two Middle Eastern nations and the United States come with potential risks. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have strong ties with China, complicating the geopolitical landscape. The potential for technology transfer to China poses a challenge to U.S. interests, as these nations might evolve into technological rivals.
Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have made considerable investments in AI research and development, hiring prominent experts and creating advanced research facilities. This newfound access to powerful AI infrastructure could accelerate their advancement, even though their current AI capabilities lag behind those of the U.S. and China.
Ultimately, these dealings signify a significant shift in the regional tech landscape, positioning Saudi Arabia and the UAE as burgeoning players in the global AI race while simultaneously deepening their economic ties with the United States. The outcome could reshape not only the technological capacities of these nations but also the broader geopolitical dynamics surrounding AI development and implementation.
