Microsoft Becomes First Company to Ship Nvidia's Advanced AI Chips to UAE Under Trump Administration

US allows Microsoft to ship Nvidia AI chips to use in UAE for first time

The US has allowed Microsoft to ship the latest Nvidia chips to the United Arab Emirates for the first time, paving the way for the Big Tech group to expand its investment in the Gulf. US President Donald Trump struck a deal in May with UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan to build a vast AI data centre campus in Abu Dhabi. The Middle East has become a key battleground in Washington's struggle with Beijing for AI leadership. But Microsoft's project had been held back by the Department of Commerce's export controls on the powerful Nvidia chips needed to run the latest AI systems. Brad Smith, Microsoft's president, told the Financial Times on Monday that in September the group became "the first company to receive a licence under the Trump administration" to export Nvidia's AI chips to the UAE. "You cannot get those export licences unless you're able to meet the requirements that have been imposed by the US government," Smith said. "We earned it by satisfying very stringent cyber security, physical security and other security requirements." Microsoft now plans to increase its UAE investment from $7.3bn over the past three years, to more than $7.9bn from 2026 to 2029, of which $5.5bn will go on capital spending for AI and cloud infrastructure.

Microsoft to ship 60,000 Nvidia AI chips to UAE under US-approved deal

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Microsoft said Monday it will be shipping Nvidia's most advanced artificial intelligence chips to the United Arab Emirates as part of a deal approved by the U.S. Commerce Department. The Redmond, Washington software giant said licenses approved in September under "stringent" safeguards enable it to ship more than 60,000 Nvidia chips, including the California chipmaker's advanced GB300 Grace Blackwell chips, for use in data centers in the Middle Eastern country. The agreement appeared to contradict President Donald Trump's remarks in a "60 Minutes" interview aired Sunday that such chips would not be exported outside the U.S. Asked by CBS News' Norah O'Donnell if he will allow Nvidia to sell its most advanced chips to China, Trump said he wouldn't. "We will let them deal with Nvidia but not in terms of the most advanced," Trump said. "The most advanced, we will not let anybody have them other than the United States." The UAE's ability to access chips is tied to its pledge to invest $1.4 trillion in U.S. energy and AI-related projects, an outsized sum given its annual GDP is roughly $540 billion. The UAE ambassador to the U.S., Yousef Al Otaiba, said in a statement earlier this year that the arrangement was "setting a new 'Gold Standard' for securing AI models, chips, data and access." Microsoft's announcement Monday was part of the company's planned $15.2 billion investment in technology in the UAE, which is says has some of the highest per-capita usage of AI. Microsoft had already accumulated in the UAE more than 21,000 of Nvidia's graphics processor chips, known as GPUs, through licenses approved under then-President Joe Biden. "We're using these GPUs to provide access to advanced AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, open-source providers, and Microsoft itself," said a company statement.

Nvidia shares up 2% in premarket as U.S. approves sales of its chips to the UAE

Microsoft's licenses enable the firm to ship Nvidia chips -- involving its more advanced GB300 GPUs -- to the United Arab Emirates. Microsoft said Monday it has secured export licenses to ship Nvidia chips to the United Arab Emirates in a move that could accelerate the Gulf's lofty AI ambitions. The tech giant said it is the first company under U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to secure such licenses from the Commerce Department and that the approval, granted in September, was based on "updated and stringent technology safeguards." The licenses enable the firm to ship the equivalent of 60,400 additional A100 chips, involving tech darling Nvidia's more advanced GB300 GPUs.

Microsoft expands UAE investment to $15.2B with major Nvidia GPU shipments

Microsoft announced additional investments in the United Arab Emirates as it looks to expand its data center footprint and capitalize on export licenses. The Redmond, Wash.-based tech giant has already spent $7.3 billion since 2023, including a $1.5 billion equity stake in Abu Dhabi-based G42, the country's sovereign AI company. Microsoft said Monday it plans to invest another $7.9 billion from 2026 to 2029. The funding covers AI and cloud infrastructure, workforce training, and new governance initiatives. "This is not money raised in the UAE. It's money we're spending in the UAE," Microsoft President Brad Smith wrote in a blog post. "And as we do everywhere in the world, we're focused not just on growing our business but also on contributing to the local economy. This involves bringing together three critical factors -- technology, talent, and trust." Microsoft said it was the first U.S. corporation to get approval from the Trump administration to receive export licenses from the Commerce Department to ship Nvidia GPUs to the UAE. "We're using these GPUs to provide access to advanced AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, open-source providers, and Microsoft itself," Smith wrote. Microsoft says the effort is guided by "technology, talent, and trust," anchored by a new Responsible AI Future Foundation and a first-of-its-kind intergovernmental assurance framework designed to align its UAE operations with U.S. cybersecurity and data protection standards. Microsoft has nearly 1,000 full-time employees in the UAE.

Microsoft to send Nvidia's top AI chips to the UAE despite Trump saying they wouldn't be exported outside the U.S. | Fortune

Microsoft said Monday it will be shipping Nvidia's most advanced artificial intelligence chips to the United Arab Emirates as part of a deal approved by the U.S. Commerce Department. The Redmond, Washington software giant said licenses approved in September under "stringent" safeguards enable it to ship more than 60,000 Nvidia chips, including the California chipmaker's advanced GB300 Grace Blackwell chips, for use in data centers in the Middle Eastern country. The agreement appeared to contradict President Donald Trump's remarks in a "60 Minutes" interview aired Sunday that such chips would not be exported outside the U.S. Asked by CBS News' Norah O'Donnell if he will allow Nvidia to sell its most advanced chips to China, Trump said he wouldn't. "We will let them deal with Nvidia but not in terms of the most advanced," Trump said. "The most advanced, we will not let anybody have them other than the United States." The UAE's ability to access chips is tied to its pledge to invest $1.4 trillion in U.S. energy and AI-related projects, an outsized sum given its annual GDP is roughly $540 billion. The UAE ambassador to the U.S., Yousef Al Otaiba, said in a statement earlier this year that the arrangement was "setting a new 'Gold Standard' for securing AI models, chips, data and access." Microsoft's announcement Monday was part of the company's planned $15.2 billion investment in technology in the UAE, which is says has some of the highest per-capita usage of AI. Microsoft had already accumulated in the UAE more than 21,000 of Nvidia's graphics processor chips, known as GPUs, through licenses approved under then-President Joe Biden. "We're using these GPUs to provide access to advanced AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, open-source providers, and Microsoft itself," said a company statement.

Microsoft to ship 60,000 Nvidia AI chips to UAE under U.S.-approved deal

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Microsoft said Monday it will be shipping Nvidia's most advanced artificial intelligence chips to the United Arab Emirates as part of a deal approved by the U.S. Commerce Department. The Redmond software giant said licenses approved in September under "stringent" safeguards enable it to ship more than 60,000 Nvidia chips, including the California chipmaker's advanced GB300 Grace Blackwell chips, for use in data centers in the Middle Eastern country. The agreement appeared to contradict President Donald Trump's remarks in a "60 Minutes" interview aired Sunday that such chips would not be exported outside the U.S. Asked by CBS News' Norah O'Donnell if he will allow Nvidia to sell its most advanced chips to China, Trump said he wouldn't. "We will let them deal with Nvidia but not in terms of the most advanced," Trump said. "The most advanced, we will not let anybody have them other than the United States." The UAE's ability to access chips is tied to its pledge to invest $1.4 trillion in U.S. energy and AI-related projects, an outsized sum given its annual GDP is roughly $540 billion. The UAE ambassador to the U.S., Yousef Al Otaiba, said in a statement earlier this year that the arrangement was "setting a new 'Gold Standard' for securing AI models, chips, data and access." Microsoft's announcement Monday was part of the company's planned $15.2 billion investment in technology in the UAE, which is says has some of the highest per-capita usage of AI. Microsoft had already accumulated in the UAE more than 21,000 of Nvidia's graphics processor chips, known as GPUs, through licenses approved under then-President Joe Biden. "We're using these GPUs to provide access to advanced AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, open-source providers, and Microsoft itself," said a company statement.

Microsoft to ship 60,000 Nvidia AI chips to UAE under US-approved deal

WASHINGTON -- Microsoft said Monday it will be shipping Nvidia's most advanced artificial intelligence chips to the United Arab Emirates as part of a deal approved by the U.S. Commerce Department. The Redmond, Washington software giant said licenses approved in September under "stringent" safeguards enable it to ship more than 60,000 Nvidia chips, including the California chipmaker's advanced GB300 Grace Blackwell chips, for use in data centers in the Middle Eastern country. The agreement appeared to contradict President Donald Trump's remarks in a "60 Minutes" interview aired Sunday that such chips would not be exported outside the U.S. Asked by CBS News' Norah O'Donnell if he will allow Nvidia to sell its most advanced chips to China, Trump said he wouldn't. "We will let them deal with Nvidia but not in terms of the most advanced," Trump said. "The most advanced, we will not let anybody have them other than the United States." The UAE's ability to access chips is tied to its pledge to invest $1.4 trillion in U.S. energy and AI-related projects, an outsized sum given its annual GDP is roughly $540 billion. The UAE ambassador to the U.S., Yousef Al Otaiba, said in a statement earlier this year that the arrangement was "setting a new 'Gold Standard' for securing AI models, chips, data and access." Microsoft's announcement Monday was part of the company's planned $15.2 billion investment in technology in the UAE, which is says has some of the highest per-capita usage of AI. Microsoft had already accumulated in the UAE more than 21,000 of Nvidia's graphics processor chips, known as GPUs, through licenses approved under then-President Joe Biden. "We're using these GPUs to provide access to advanced AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, open-source providers, and Microsoft itself," said a company statement.

Microsoft to Ship 60,000 Nvidia AI Chips to UAE Under US-Approved Deal

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Microsoft said Monday it will be shipping Nvidia's most advanced artificial intelligence chips to the United Arab Emirates as part of a deal approved by the U.S. Commerce Department. The Redmond, Washington software giant said licenses approved in September under "stringent" safeguards enable it to ship more than 60,000 Nvidia chips, including the California chipmaker's advanced GB300 Grace Blackwell chips, for use in data centers in the Middle Eastern country. The agreement appeared to contradict President Donald Trump's remarks in a "60 Minutes" interview aired Sunday that such chips would not be exported outside the U.S. Asked by CBS News' Norah O'Donnell if he will allow Nvidia to sell its most advanced chips to China, Trump said he wouldn't. "We will let them deal with Nvidia but not in terms of the most advanced," Trump said. "The most advanced, we will not let anybody have them other than the United States." The UAE's ability to access chips is tied to its pledge to invest $1.4 trillion in U.S. energy and AI-related projects, an outsized sum given its annual GDP is roughly $540 billion. The UAE ambassador to the U.S., Yousef Al Otaiba, said in a statement earlier this year that the arrangement was "setting a new 'Gold Standard' for securing AI models, chips, data and access." Microsoft's announcement Monday was part of the company's planned $15.2 billion investment in technology in the UAE, which is says has some of the highest per-capita usage of AI. Microsoft had already accumulated in the UAE more than 21,000 of Nvidia's graphics processor chips, known as GPUs, through licenses approved under then-President Joe Biden. "We're using these GPUs to provide access to advanced AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, open-source providers, and Microsoft itself," said a company statement.

Microsoft Expands AI Infrastructure In Middle East, Nvidia Rallies - Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA)

Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:NVDA) shares are trading higher after the U.S. reportedly approved Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) to ship the U.S. chip designer's artificial intelligence chips for use in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The company announced new details of its long-term investment strategy in the UAE as Abu Dhabi and Dubai host primary energy and technology conferences this week. Microsoft reaffirmed its commitment to advancing artificial intelligence and cloud innovation through a strategic partnership with G42, the UAE's sovereign AI company -- a collaboration launched two and a half years ago with support from both the U.S. and UAE governments. Also Read: Nvidia Gains As US Greenlights Major AI Deal With UAE Brad Smith, Microsoft's president, told the Financial Times on Monday that the company became the first under the Trump administration to secure a license in September to export Nvidia's AI chips to the UAE. Between 2023 and 2029, Microsoft will invest $15.2 billion in the UAE, including $1.5 billion in equity in G42, more than $10 billion in capital expenditures for advanced AI and cloud data centers, and over $3 billion in operating costs. These licenses enable Microsoft to ship the equivalent of 60,400 additional A100 chips, in this instance involving Nvidia's even more advanced GB300 GPUs. These chips enable access to advanced AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Microsoft itself, supporting national-scale innovation across the public and private sectors. Microsoft also launched initiatives to strengthen the UAE's human capital and research ecosystem, including the Global Engineering Development Center and the AI for Good Lab in Abu Dhabi. Smith told the Financial Times that Microsoft views the Middle East as a key hub for spreading AI technology across the Global South -- spanning the Middle East, Southern Europe, Africa, and East Asia. He warned that uneven AI adoption could widen global economic inequality. He emphasized that the race to deploy AI broadly is even more critical than the race to develop cutting-edge models. Smith said the strengthened partnership between the U.S. and UAE is central to this effort. He noted that new U.S. export permits allow Microsoft to quadruple its AI computing power in the UAE and expects to apply for additional licenses within the next six to twelve months, confident the company will meet all regulatory conditions. Price Actions: Nvidia shares were up 2.55% at $207.67 at the time of publication on Monday. MSFT is up 0.96%. Read Next: Nvidia Secures Exclusive Access To Taiwan Semiconductor's Next-Gen Super-Chip Image: Shutterstock MSFTMicrosoft Corp$519.110.25%OverviewNVDANVIDIA Corp$207.852.65%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Forget China -- NVIDIA's AI Chips Are Now Heading to the UAE as Microsoft Receives 'Pivotal' Approval from the Trump Administration

NVIDIA's AI chips are now heading to the UAE, as, according to a new report, Microsoft has received the required export license to send the American tech stack to the Middle East. While the NVIDIA-China deadlock is far from over, it appears that a new 'revenue' frontier has opened up for Team Green, as, according to the Financial Times, it is disclosed that Microsoft has received the approval to send NVIDIA's AI chips to the UAE. Microsoft's President, Brad Smith, has disclosed the development while speaking with the FT, claiming that the approval comes after thorough regulatory checks. This means that the Middle East could be the next region of opportunity for CSPs and AI giants. You cannot get those export licences unless you're able to meet the requirements that have been imposed by the US government. We earned it by satisfying very stringent cyber security, physical security and other security requirements. The Middle East has become the new focus of the American tech stack when it comes to dominating markets. Since President Trump's visit to Gulf states, NVIDIA and other tech giants have signed multiple deals with state-backed organizations, including G42 and HUMAIN AI. It is claimed that following the licensing approval, Microsoft will now invest significantly more in the UAE, and the tech giant is projected to spend $7.9 billion from 2026 to 2029 in the nation, which implies that there is a prospect for NVIDIA's AI chips. It wouldn't be wrong to say that access to Gulf nations might be something NVIDIA is eyeing after the company's recent struggles with China, considering the investment opportunities in countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which make the region of immense importance to NVIDIA. The Trump administration has been reluctant to send cutting-edge AI chips to the UAE previously; however, it appears Microsoft has met the requirements put in place by the government. It would be interesting to see whether the Middle East could act as a replacement for China in terms of revenue size; however, it's too early to say for now.

Microsoft to ship Nvidia AI chips to UAE after US export approval - FT By Investing.com

Investing.com -- Microsoft has received approval from the United States to export Nvidia's advanced AI chips to the United Arab Emirates, marking a significant development in the company's Middle East expansion plans. Brad Smith, Microsoft's president, confirmed on Monday that in September, the tech giant became "the first company to receive a license under the Trump administration" to ship Nvidia's AI chips to the UAE, according to a report from the Financial Times. The approval comes after US President Donald Trump reached an agreement in May with UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan to establish an AI data center campus in Abu Dhabi. Microsoft's planned project had previously faced obstacles due to the Department of Commerce's export controls on powerful Nvidia chips essential for operating advanced AI systems. This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.