Abu Dhabi and Nvidia Open First AI and Robotics Lab in the Middle East

Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII) has teamed up with Nvidia to open a new AI and robotics lab in the United Arab Emirates — the first Nvidia AI Technology Center in the Middle East. The announcement marks another big step in the UAE’s strategy to strengthen its role in the global AI race.

The lab will combine TII’s multidisciplinary research with Nvidia’s advanced AI models and computing power. According to TII CEO Najwa Aaraj, the lab will also use Nvidia’s new Thor chip, which is designed for advanced robotics systems. Research will cover areas like humanoid robots, robotic arms, and even four-legged robots.

This collaboration has been in the works for about a year and will host teams from both sides, with more specialists to be hired as the project grows. TII has already been using Nvidia’s chips to train its own language models, so this partnership is a natural expansion of their cooperation.

The UAE has been investing heavily in artificial intelligence, aiming to become a key global player in the field. By working with leading U.S. tech companies, it hopes to combine resources, expertise, and infrastructure to push forward on AI and robotics innovation.