UAE Secures Major US Tech and Energy Deals Amid AI Chip Agreement
The United Arab Emirates has finalised a significant agreement with the United States to import advanced American-made artificial intelligence semiconductors, marking a pivotal step in Abu Dhabi's ambition to become a global AI hub. The deal, announced during President Donald Trump's Gulf tour, permits the UAE to import 500,000 Nvidia H100 chips annually, facilitating the development of large-scale data centres in the region.
This agreement coincides with the UAE's broader commitment to invest $1.4 trillion in the U.S. over the next decade, focusing on sectors such as AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy, and manufacturing. The investment framework includes partnerships with major U.S. companies like BlackRock, Microsoft, and Global Infrastructure Partners, aiming to mobilise up to $100 billion for next-generation data centres and energy infrastructure.
A key component of the deal is the construction of a 10-square-mile, 5-gigawatt data centre in Abu Dhabi, led by Emirati firm G42 and involving several U.S. tech companies. This facility is set to be the largest of its kind outside the United States, significantly enhancing the UAE's data processing capabilities and supporting its AI initiatives.
The agreement also includes substantial U.S. investments in the UAE, with American energy companies expected to invest in upstream oil and gas and unconventional energy projects. Top U.S. firms such as ExxonMobil, Oxy, and EOG Resources are involved in these initiatives, reflecting a deepening of bilateral energy ties.
President Trump's Gulf tour, which included visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, focused on securing financial commitments from wealthy energy producers to boost the U.S. economy and create jobs. The UAE's pledge to increase its energy sector investments in the United States to $440 billion by 2035, up from the current $70 billion, underscores the success of this diplomatic effort.
The UAE's strategic shift towards the U.S. in technology and energy sectors is seen as a move to decouple from Chinese influence, particularly in AI. Emirati officials have explicitly pursued this realignment to secure U.S. technology transfers, including advanced semiconductors like Nvidia's H100 GPUs. This pivot follows U.S. pressure to remove Chinese equipment from critical infrastructure, exemplified by G42's removal of Huawei technology from its data centres.
The $1.4 trillion investment framework also encompasses initiatives in critical minerals and industrial capacity. The UAE's $1.2 billion mining partnership with Orion Resource Partners targets lithium, cobalt, and rare earth metals essential for AI hardware and renewable energy systems. Additionally, Emirates Global Aluminum plans to build the first new aluminum smelter in the U.S. in 35 years, aiming to nearly double the country's domestic production.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Middle East Eye
3 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Israel signals impatience with US deadline on Iran action: Report
Israeli officials have reportedly informed the Trump administration they may act against Iran before a two-week deadline set by the US president expires. According to two sources familiar with the exchange speaking to Reuters, senior Israeli figures conveyed their stance during a tense phone call with US counterparts on Thursday. The Israeli delegation on the call included Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Israel Katz, and military chief Eyal Zamir, said a security source. Israel is concerned about delays in targeting the Fordow nuclear facility — a heavily fortified site buried within a mountain and regarded as the heart of Iran's uranium enrichment programme. US officials have been debating whether Washington should support or join an Israeli operation. The US military is the only force with bombs powerful enough to strike the deeply embedded Fordow site. Reuters reported that B-2 stealth bombers capable of carrying 30,000-pound bunker busters have been deployed to Guam, a move that may signal US readiness to intervene.
Khaleej Times
5 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Israel-Iran conflict: B-2 bombers, bunker-busters; what to know about US' most advanced weapons
The US Air Force's B-2 Spirit stealth bomber represents one of America's most advanced strategic weapons platforms, capable of entering sophisticated air defences and delivering precision strikes against hardened targets such as Iran's buried network of nuclear research facilities. The US military is ready to carry out any decision that President Donald Trump may make on Iran, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday, adding that Tehran should have heeded the President's calls for it to make a deal on its nuclear programme prior to the start of Israel's strikes on Friday. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected Trump's demand for unconditional surrender on Wednesday, and the US President said his patience had run out, though he gave no clue as to what his next step would be. B-2 Spirit specifications The US B-2 costs about $2.1 billion each, making it the most expensive military aircraft ever built. Made by Northrop Grumman the bomber with its cutting-edge stealth technology, began its production run in the late 1980s but was curbed by the fall of the Soviet Union. Only 21 were made after the Pentagon's planned acquisition programme was truncated. The bomber's range of over 6,000 nautical miles without refueling enables global strike capabilities from continental US bases. With aerial refueling, the B-2 can reach virtually any target worldwide, as demonstrated in missions from Missouri to Afghanistan and Libya. Its payload capacity of more than 40,000 pounds allows the aircraft to carry a diverse array of conventional and nuclear weapons. The bomber's internal weapons bays are specifically designed to maintain stealth characteristics while accommodating large ordnance loads which could include two GBU-57A/B MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator), a 30,000-pound precision-guided "bunker buster" bomb. The two-pilot crew configuration reduces personnel requirements while maintaining operational effectiveness through advanced automation systems. The B-2's stealth technology incorporates radar-absorbing materials and angular design features that minimise detection by enemy air defence systems. Its radar cross-section is reportedly comparable to that of a small bird, making it nearly invisible to conventional radar. Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) The 30,000-pound MOP represents the largest conventional bomb in the U.S. arsenal, specifically engineered to defeat hardened underground bunkers. Its massive size requires the B-2 to carry only one or two MOPs per mission, but provides unmatched bunker-penetration capability. The weapon's 20.5-foot length and GPS-guided precision targeting system enable accurate strikes against specific underground facilities. Its penetration capability of over 200 feet through hardened concrete makes it effective against the world's most protected underground installations. Conventional payloads Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) provide the B-2 with precision conventional strike capability against fixed targets. These GPS-guided weapons can be deployed in large numbers, with the bomber capable of simultaneously engaging multiple targets with high accuracy. Joint Standoff Weapons (JSOW) extend the aircraft's engagement range while maintaining stealth characteristics during approach. These glide bombs allow the B-2 to strike targets from outside heavily defended airspace perimeters. Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) offer long-range precision strike capability with their own stealth features. The extended-range JASSM-ER variant provides strike options against targets over 500 miles (805 km) away. Nuclear payload capabilities The B-2 Spirit serves as a key component of America's nuclear triad, capable of delivering strategic nuclear weapons with stealth and precision. The aircraft can carry up to 16 B83 nuclear bombs.
Middle East Eye
6 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
US deploys B-2 bombers to Guam amid Israel-Iran tensions
The United States has begun moving B-2 stealth bombers to its airbase in Guam, two US officials told Reuters on Saturday, as President Donald Trump considers whether to involve Washington in Israel's ongoing military campaign against Iran. While the officials did not confirm a direct link between the deployment and the current conflict in the Middle East, the move comes amid heightened regional tensions. The B-2 is capable of carrying the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator — a 13,600kg bomb designed to destroy fortified underground sites, such as those suspected of housing elements of Iran's nuclear programme. Officials, speaking anonymously, declined to say how many bombers were being relocated and noted no forward orders had been issued to deploy them beyond Guam. The Pentagon has not commented on the development.
