Nvidia And Abu Dhabi Launch New AI Research And Robotics Lab

Nvidia and Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII) announced on Monday a new partnership to build an AI research and robotics lab in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This will be Nvidia’s first AI technology center in the Middle East.

According to Reuters, the new lab will focus on developing advanced AI models and the next-generation robotics platforms. The TII, which is part of the Advanced Technology Research Council—a government department—will use Nvidia’s GPU chips to accelerate and support its efforts to become a global leader in AI technology.

Technology Innovation Institute (TII) and NVIDIA have launched the Middle East’s first joint NVAITC AI and Robotics Lab.
This strategic initiative creates a powerful ecosystem for advancing Generative AI models, embodied AI and robotics. pic.twitter.com/XQiewxPLbE

— Technology Innovation Institute (@TIIuae) September 22, 2025

The institute is currently building humanoid and quadruped robots, as well as components such as robotic arms. The new partnership is expected to boost these efforts.

“It will be a chip that we will newly use…It’s called the Thor chip, and it is a chip that enables advanced robotic systems development,” said Najwa Aaraj, the CEO of TII, in an interview with Reuters.

The discussions for this new deal have been ongoing. In May, President Donald Trump signed a multi-billion-dollar deal in Abu Dhabi to build one of the largest data centers in the world—featuring U.S. technology and Nvidia chips—, but it was not finalized due to the UAE’s close relationship with China.

Negotiations with Nvidia to build the joint lab have been underway for the past year. Both institutions have now reached an agreement, which includes contributions from both teams and new staff hired exclusively for the project.

“The initiative aligns with Abu Dhabi’s long-term strategy to advance technological sovereignty and shape the future of intelligent autonomous systems,” wrote the TII in a recent post on the social media platform X.

Last week, Nvidia also announced a new partnership with the U.K. government and multiple tech companies—including OpenAI, Google,  and Microsoft—to develop AI infrastructure in the region.