**NVIDIA’s AI Chips Head to the UAE as Microsoft Secures Export License**

In a significant development for the Middle East tech landscape, Microsoft has received the necessary export license to ship NVIDIA’s advanced AI chips to the United Arab Emirates. This marks a notable milestone as Microsoft becomes one of the first cloud service providers (CSPs) authorized to bring the American tech giant’s AI hardware into the region.

According to a report by the Financial Times, Microsoft President Brad Smith confirmed the approval, emphasizing that it came after rigorous regulatory scrutiny. “You cannot get those export licences unless you’re able to meet the requirements imposed by the US government. We earned it by satisfying very stringent cybersecurity, physical security, and other security requirements,” Smith stated.

This development positions the Middle East as a burgeoning frontier for cloud and AI companies seeking to expand their presence. With ongoing restrictions complicating NVIDIA’s business in China, the Gulf region emerges as a new strategic market for the company.

Since former President Donald Trump’s visit to Gulf states, several leading tech firms, including NVIDIA, have inked partnerships with state-backed organizations such as G42 and HUMAIN AI. These collaborations signal growing confidence in the Middle East’s potential as a tech hub.

Following the export license approval, Microsoft plans to significantly increase its investment in the UAE, projecting expenditures of $7.9 billion between 2026 and 2029. This substantial financial commitment highlights the region’s importance not only for Microsoft but also for NVIDIA’s AI chip deployment.

Given recent challenges in China, NVIDIA is reportedly eyeing the Gulf nations—especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE—as crucial markets for growth. These countries offer attractive investment opportunities, making the Middle East a key area of focus for the American tech stack.

While the Trump administration had shown hesitation in allowing the export of cutting-edge AI chips to the UAE in the past, Microsoft’s compliance with stringent government requirements seems to have paved the way for this breakthrough.

Whether the Middle East can eventually rival China in revenue generation for NVIDIA and other tech players remains to be seen, but the groundwork for a promising new chapter in AI expansion is clearly being laid.

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Stay tuned for more updates on how AI technology and cloud services are shaping new markets across the globe.
https://wccftech.com/forget-china-nvidia-ai-chips-are-now-going-to-the-uae/