Plans for the 5GW UAE-US AI Campus, unveiled during US President Donald Trump's visit to Abu Dhabi, include an emphasis on security, given Washington's focus on limiting China's access to advanced AI technology.
In addition to the size and ambition of the artificial intelligence infrastructure plan, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick underlined the project's “strong security guarantees to prevent diversion of US technology".
Sriram Krishnan, the White House's senior policy adviser for AI, described the link up as "historic".
“These Middle East AI partnerships are historic and this 'AI diplomacy' will help lock in the American tech stack in the region …” Mr Krishnan posted on X. “This happens on top of rigorous security guarantees to stop diversion or unauthorised access of our technology.”
In a response to Mr Krishnan's post, Talal Al Kaissi, executive vice president and chief government affairs and partnerships officer at Core42, a unit of Abu Dhabi's AI company G42, also stressed security.
“We at G42 appreciate the delicate balance US policymakers have in trying to spearhead global AI partnerships while prioritising rigorous security to protect advanced technologies,” said Mr Al Kaissi
Emphasising security may seem routine, but the wider context of chip exports and geopolitical tensions between the US and China give these comments more weight.
“I’m genuinely perplexed how any self-proclaimed 'China Hawk' can claim that President Trump’s AI deals with UAE and Saudi Arabia aren’t hugely beneficial for the United States,” White House cryptocurrency and AI adviser David Sacks wrote on X.
“If the concern is about diversion of advanced semiconductors to China, that’s an important policy objective but one that is easily addressed with a security agreement and a 'trust but verify' approach.”
Mr Sacks said the physical size of AI hardware means it is “not like diamonds smuggled in a briefcase".
Those comments were in sharp contrast to those of Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, who expressed scepticism just hours before the AI campus announcement. “This could undermine building the AI future in America,” he wrote.
Over at the US commerce department, however, Mr Lutnick insisted such concerns were without merit. "Any advanced semiconductor data center in the UAE or abroad will only be authorized if they operate with US government-approved Data Centre operators and cloud service providers," he wrote on X.
"These companies include for example Google, Microsoft, Oracle, xAI, OpenAI, and AWS."
On Monday, however, days after the UAE-US AI Campus was announced, Mr Schumer sent a letter to both US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Mr Lutnick, reiterating his concerns.
"Saudi Arabia and the UAE are important regional partners," he wrote in his letter, which was signed by seven other Democratic senators. "Nonetheless, we should ensure any deal include important guardrails on human rights and potential downstream exportation of such technology to our adversaries in Russia and China."
A balancing act
Projects the size of the 5GW UAE-US AI Campus do not happen in a vacuum. Last week's announcement followed months of discussions that saw the UAE's desire to remain an AI leader brush up against external geopolitical factors beyond its control.
Those external factors involve the US and China, which are both seeking to exert AI dominance amid a turbulent relationship.
Under former president Joe Biden, the US tried to block China's access to powerful semiconductors and graphics processing units, turning to chip export policy to achieve that goal.
Caught in the middle, however, were countries including the UAE, Switzerland, India, Saudi Arabia and Israel, which would have been in a second tier for chip exports, imposing a ceiling on AI aspirations. The UAE-US AI Campus plan seeks to lift that constraint.
A source told The National that, with the UAE-US AI campus and, more broadly, the US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership framework that makes it possible, “approved UAE entities will have access to the chips they need”.
Lennart Heim, an associate information scientist at the Rand Corporation think tank, echoed that analysis.
“To put the new 5GW AI campus in Abu Dhabi into perspective, it would support up to 2.5 million Nvidia B200s. That's bigger than all other major AI infrastructure announcements we've seen so far,” Mr Heim wrote.
Both sides have agreed on several security processes to ensure the technology at the heart of the AI campus remains in place.
Nvidia seems pleased
Nvidia, the US chip maker that has has converted the AI wave into unprecedented profits and corporate relevance, has been one of the most vocal firms to oppose Mr Biden's AI chip export policies.
“In its last days in office, the Biden administration seeks to undermine America’s leadership with a 200-plus-page regulatory morass, drafted in secret and without proper legislative review,” read a January statement from Ned Finkle, Nvidia's vice president of government affairs.
In February, the topic came up as Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang tried to persuade Mr Trump not to implement the rules. Those efforts, along with other pushes from companies such as Microsoft, appear to have had some impact, at least in the context of the UAE-US AI campus.
Mr Huang was in Abu Dhabi as models of the AI campus were unveiled. Several days later, while speaking to Bloomberg in Taiwan, Mr Huang said there was “little evidence” of Nvidia's hardware being smuggled to China.
What's next?
It remains unclear if or when the Trump administration will adjust chip export rules. Debate continues over how much impact the policies would have given the quickening pace of AI developments.
Chinese tech companies such as DeepSeek and Huawei appear to have been largely unaffected by the policies. And some observers say the export rules prompted China to be even more innovative with its approach.
Robert Mogielnicki, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute think tank in Washington, said that amid all the debates, the UAE has carefully and successfully managed a balancing act.
“They've reserved their highest tier tech partnerships for US partners,” Mr Mogielnicki said, noting a particular UAE affinity for Microsoft and Nvidia.
He added, however, the AI campus announcement does not mean the end for China, especially on a private-sector relationship level between UAE and China-based firms.
“There's still significant Chinese interest in the in the region's technology sector, and many of those Chinese technology companies have very compelling offerings too,” said Mr Mogielnicki.
The years Ramadan fell in May
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
More on Quran memorisation:
Marathon results
Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
How The Debt Panel's advice helped readers in 2019
December 11: 'My husband died, so what happens to the Dh240,000 he owes in the UAE?'
JL, a housewife from India, wrote to us about her husband, who died earlier this month. He left behind an outstanding loan of Dh240,000 and she was hoping to pay it off with an insurance policy he had taken out. She also wanted to recover some of her husband’s end-of-service liabilities to help support her and her son.
“I have no words to thank you for helping me out,” she wrote to The Debt Panel after receiving the panellists' comments. “The advice has given me an idea of the present status of the loan and how to take it up further. I will draft a letter and send it to the email ID on the bank’s website along with the death certificate. I hope and pray to find a way out of this.”
November 26: ‘I owe Dh100,000 because my employer has not paid me for a year’
SL, a financial services employee from India, left the UAE in June after quitting his job because his employer had not paid him since November 2018. He owes Dh103,800 on four debts and was told by the panellists he may be able to use the insolvency law to solve his issue.
SL thanked the panellists for their efforts. "Indeed, I have some clarity on the consequence of the case and the next steps to take regarding my situation," he says. "Hopefully, I will be able to provide a positive testimony soon."
October 15: 'I lost my job and left the UAE owing Dh71,000. Can I return?'
MS, an energy sector employee from South Africa, left the UAE in August after losing his Dh12,000 job. He was struggling to meet the repayments while securing a new position in the UAE and feared he would be detained if he returned. He has now secured a new job and will return to the Emirates this month.
“The insolvency law is indeed a relief to hear,” he says. "I will not apply for insolvency at this stage. I have been able to pay something towards my loan and credit card. As it stands, I only have a one-month deficit, which I will be able to recover by the end of December."
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More on animal trafficking
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
The%20Beekeeper
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDavid%20Ayer%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJason%20Statham%2C%20Josh%20Hutcherson%2C%20Emmy%20Raver-Lampman%2C%20Minnie%20Driver%2C%20Jeremy%20Irons%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Read more about the coronavirus
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
India cancels school-leaving examinations
More coverage from the Future Forum
The years Ramadan fell in May
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 0
Wolves 2 (Traore 80', 90 4')
Zayed Sustainability Prize
More on Quran memorisation:
Zayed Sustainability Prize
ACC%20T20%20Women%E2%80%99s%20Championship
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20fixtures%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EFriday%2C%20June%2017%20v%20Oman%3Cbr%3ESaturday%2C%20June%2018%20v%20Singapore%3Cbr%3EMonday%2C%20June%2020%20v%20Malaysia%3Cbr%3EWednesday%2C%20June%2022%20v%20Qatar%3Cbr%3EFriday%2C%20June%2024%2C%20semi-final%3Cbr%3ESaturday%2C%20June%2025%2C%20final%3Cbr%3E%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20squad%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Chaya%20Mughal%20(captain)%2C%20Esha%20Oza%2C%20Indhuja%20Nandakumar%2C%20Kavisha%20Kumari%2C%20Khushi%20Sharma%2C%20Lavanya%20Keny%2C%20Priyanjali%20Jain%2C%20Rithika%20Rajith%2C%20Samaira%20Dharnidharka%2C%20Sanchin%20Singh%2C%20Siya%20Gokhale%2C%20Suraksha%20Kotte%2C%20Theertha%20Satish%2C%20Vaishnave%20Mahesh%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
How it works
Each player begins with one of the great empires of history, from Julius Caesar's Rome to Ramses of Egypt, spread over Europe and the Middle East.
Round by round, the player expands their empire. The more land they have, the more money they can take from their coffers for each go.
As unruled land and soldiers are acquired, players must feed them. When a player comes up against land held by another army, they can choose to battle for supremacy.
A dice-based battle system is used and players can get the edge on their enemy with by deploying a renowned hero on the battlefield.
Players that lose battles and land will find their coffers dwindle and troops go hungry. The end goal? Global domination of course.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre supercharged V6
Power: 416hp at 7,000rpm
Torque: 410Nm at 3,500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Fuel consumption: 10.2 l/100km
Price: Dh375,000
On sale: now
ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
%3Cp%3EBy%202030%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%20aims%20to%20achieve%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%2039.3%20million%20visitors%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20nearly%2064%25%20up%20from%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%20Dh90%20billion%20contribution%20to%20GDP%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20about%2084%25%20more%20than%20Dh49%20billion%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%20178%2C000%20new%20jobs%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20bringing%20the%20total%20to%20about%20366%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%2052%2C000%20hotel%20rooms%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20up%2053%25%20from%2034%2C000%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%207.2%20million%20international%20visitors%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20almost%2090%25%20higher%20compared%20to%202023's%203.8%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%203.9%20international%20overnight%20hotel%20stays%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2022%25%20more%20from%203.2%20nights%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The five pillars of Islam
