#DonaldTrump ’s visit to Saudi Arabia and the #UAE has sparked a new phase in the global AI race, driven by strategic deals with major American tech giants.
⚫ What Happened:
• The U.S. eased export restrictions on AI chips to Saudi Arabia and the UAE
• Nvidia, AMD, Amazon, Cisco, and #OpenAI are launching multi-billion-dollar projects
• Biden’s “AI diffusion rule” has been scrapped — each country will now gain access through bilateral agreements
⚫ Key Deals:
• Nvidia will supply tens of thousands of Grace Blackwell AI chips to Saudi Arabia’s Humain
• AMD is involved in a $10B data center initiative in the Kingdom
• Amazon is investing $5B in an “AI zone” to build a marketplace for AI agents
• Google and STV are launching a $100M fund for AI startups across MENA
• OpenAI is considering building new data centers in the UAE
⚫ What It Means:
• The Middle East is becoming a new hub for global AI infrastructure
• The U.S. is shifting from control to “AI diplomacy” — prioritizing partnerships and rapid deployment
• Nvidia and other firms are using friendly markets to offset export restrictions to China
Washington remains concerned that chips could reach China through companies with questionable ties — such as G42 in the UAE, previously linked to Huawei.