The United Arab Emirates and the US have signed a groundbreaking agreement to construct the largest artificial intelligence campus outside the United States. The deal, valued at over $200 billion, was finalized during President Donald Trump's visit to Abu Dhabi. The AI campus will be built on a 25.9 sq km area in Abu Dhabi and will have a 5-gigawatt power capacity for AI data centers, making it larger than any existing AI infrastructure.
The agreement includes the import of hundreds of thousands of Nvidia's advanced AI chips annually, with the UAE expected to import 500,000 of Nvidia's most advanced AI chips per year starting in 2025. The deal reflects the Trump administration's confidence in managing chip exports securely, with the data centers operated by US companies offering cloud services.
This development marks a significant shift in the US's approach to AI chip exports under Trump's leadership. The Trump administration plans to rescind Biden-era AI chip curbs, replacing them with a simpler rule that promotes American innovation while ensuring AI dominance.
The deal has raised concerns about potential security risks, particularly if the chips are accessed by Chinese firms or housed in facilities with ties to China. However, the agreement includes strong protections to prevent the diversion of US-origin technology, with clauses to stop chip diversion to China and prevent remote access by Chinese firms.
The development underscores Washington's growing confidence that strategic allies like the UAE can responsibly manage advanced compute technologies. The UAE's investment in US tech ventures, including OpenAI and Elon Musk's xAI, further solidifies its commitment to AI development.
