U.S. finally grants Nvidia license to ship AI GPUs to UAE: 500,000 Blackwell GPUs coming to the Gulf region

The U.S. has granted Nvidia a license to ship AI GPUs to the UAE, marking the start of a significant technology partnership. The GPUs will not go to G42, a UAE-based AI firm, but to American companies with data centers in the UAE. This move is part of a broader strategy to counter China's influence in the region by embedding U.S. cloud providers and hardware in UAE infrastructure. The deal aims to link AI hardware sales with Emirati investment and strengthen American control over AI deployment in the Middle East. Critics raise concerns about the lack of safeguards to ensure the GPUs are used in vetted environments.