NVIDIA says Middle Eastern countries remain committed to their artificial intelligence ambitions despite the ongoing conflict with Iran. The company believes regional governments continue to view AI as a key driver of economic diversification, keeping demand for advanced chips and computing infrastructure strong.
Ruth Berry, who leads global policy on NVIDIA’s government affairs team, shared the assessment during a discussion at the Middle East Institute in Washington. She said the region’s long-term priorities had not changed despite the security challenges.
Berry said, “Governments across the Gulf continue to have a clear vision for AI development. Sustained demand for the infrastructure required to train and run advanced AI systems. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are among the countries investing heavily in computing capacity.
“Both governments want to strengthen their positions as regional technology hubs and reduce their dependence on traditional sources of economic growth. NVIDIA’s graphics processing units (GPUs) power many of the world’s AI systems. Demand for these chips remains central to plans for large-scale data centres and advanced computing facilities.
The UAE received its first shipments of NVIDIA CPUs and GPUs in May, following approval from Washington. The US had previously restricted access to advanced chips over concerns about technology security and the possible transfer of sensitive computing capabilities to unauthorised parties.
The shipments followed security assurances from the UAE. The approval marked an important step in the country’s efforts to expand its AI infrastructure and deepen technology ties with the United States.
However, Iranian attacks across the Gulf have raised questions about the security of data centres and other critical technology assets. The UAE has also reviewed plans for a major AI campus, with a revised approach involving facilities spread across multiple locations to improve resilience.
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