Technology Innovation Institute (TII) of Abu Dhabi and Nvidia have opened a joint research lab in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to develop next-generation AI models and robotics platforms, the TII said.
In a statement, TII said that this joint research hub is the first Nvidia AI Technology Centre in the Middle East. The TII will combine its multidisciplinary research with the American company’s AI models and computing power, which are driving a global artificial intelligence (AI) boom. Under the agreement, the institute will have access to certain edge GPU chips to further research on robotics, among other areas, said Najwa Aaraj, the CEO of TII, which is working on humanoids, four-legged robots, and robotic arms.
“It will be a chip that we will use… It’s called the Thor chip, and it is a chip that enables advanced robotic systems development,” Aaraj said in an interview with Zawya.
TII is the applied research arm of the Advanced Technology Research Council, an Abu Dhabi government entity that is part of the UAE’s efforts to become a global AI player. The Gulf country, known traditionally as a major oil exporter, has been spending billions of dollars in recent years on its AI push, looking to leverage its strong relations with the United States to secure access to technology.
During a Gulf visit by United States President Donald Trump in May 2025, the UAE signed a multi-billion-dollar deal to build one of the world’s largest data centre hubs in Abu Dhabi with American technology, including the most advanced Nvidia chips. However, the deal has not been finalised amid security concerns due to the UAE’s close ties to China, as per the Reuters report.
TII has worked closely with Nvidia for some time, Aaraj said, adding that TII has been using Nvidia chips to train its own language models.
“Discussions for the joint lab started around a year ago, and the hub will host teams from both parties,” Aaraj said, while adding that more staff will be hired specifically for the project.