Saudi Arabia is solidifying its position in the global artificial intelligence (AI) landscape with a major new partnership between its state-backed AI firm, Humain, and technology giant Nvidia. The deal, announced during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington D.C. this week, comes as the U.S. government approved exports of advanced microchips to both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This move signals a shift in the U.S. approach to technology transfer within the region and could significantly accelerate AI development in the Gulf.
The agreement, unveiled alongside a Saudi-US business forum presided over by the Crown Prince and President Donald Trump, focuses on deploying up to 600,000 of Nvidia’s latest AI infrastructure technologies within Saudi Arabia over the next three years. It is part of a broader “strategic artificial intelligence partnership” between the two nations, aiming to foster innovation and address shared strategic interests. The U.S. Department of Commerce confirmed the approval of exports to Humain and G42, a UAE-based AI company.
Saudi Arabia’s Investment in Artificial Intelligence
Humain, established in May and financially supported by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), is central to the Kingdom’s ambitious plans to diversify its economy away from oil. The PIF has been a driving force behind numerous large-scale “gigaprojects,” including NEOM, and is now channeling significant resources into the technology sector. This partnership with Nvidia represents a substantial step in realizing those goals.
The approved chip exports include the equivalent of up to 35,000 Nvidia Blackwell chips, the company’s most advanced offering. These chips are crucial for training and deploying large language models and other complex AI applications. According to the Department of Commerce, the exports were authorized with safeguards to ensure the technology is used responsibly and does not pose a national security risk.
Expanding AI Infrastructure
Beyond establishing Nvidia-powered data centers within Saudi Arabia, Humain is also expanding its AI infrastructure footprint in the United States. The company plans to operate AI data centers in the U.S. powered by Nvidia AI technologies. This dual approach suggests a strategy of both domestic development and leveraging existing expertise and resources abroad.
Meanwhile, G42, the UAE-based firm also receiving chip approvals, is currently constructing a one-gigawatt data center in the UAE dedicated to generative AI. This project is a collaboration with Oracle, Cisco, Nvidia, and SoftBank, highlighting the growing international interest in AI infrastructure development in the region. The demand for these advanced chips is demonstrably high, as evidenced by Nvidia’s recent earnings report, which exceeded Wall Street expectations.
The timing of these announcements coincides with a broader diplomatic push by Saudi Arabia, which during the Crown Prince’s visit, was designated a major non-NATO ally and secured a deal to purchase F-35 fighter jets. This suggests a coordinated effort to strengthen strategic ties with the U.S. across multiple sectors, including defense, energy, and technology.
The U.S. government’s decision to approve these chip exports represents a notable policy adjustment. Previously, stringent export controls were in place to limit the transfer of advanced technology to countries perceived as potential security risks. The approvals for Saudi Arabia and the UAE suggest a reassessment of those risks, potentially driven by economic and geopolitical considerations. The move also reflects the increasing importance of the Middle East as a market for AI technologies.
Looking ahead, the successful implementation of this partnership will depend on Humain’s ability to effectively deploy and utilize the new AI infrastructure. The development of a skilled workforce capable of managing and innovating with these technologies will be critical. Further details regarding the specific applications and projects that will be powered by the Nvidia chips are expected in the coming months, and observers will be watching to see how this collaboration impacts Saudi Arabia’s broader economic diversification strategy and its role in the global technology sector. The long-term implications of this shift in U.S. export policy toward the region also remain to be seen.
The growth of machine learning and the broader AI field is expected to continue, making these types of partnerships increasingly common. The development of robust AI capabilities is now viewed as essential for economic competitiveness and national security by many nations.
