Peng Xiao, CEO of G42, asserted the UAE’s capability to secure US-made chips amidst Washington’s ongoing considerations to restrict exports of advanced technology to certain countries, including those in the Middle East.
His remarks, made during a conference in Dubai, come amid US concerns that such technology, particularly from Nvidia and AMD, might fall into the hands of China.
Xiao emphasized the UAE’s transparency and reliability in handling sensitive technologies, suggesting a robust partnership between the US and UAE in areas like AI development and technology sharing.
The Biden administration’s concerns have also been linked to G42’s prior connections to China. To address this, G42 divested stakes in Chinese firms, such as ByteDance.
“I cannot read the mind of the US policymakers, but in many ways, I understand their position,” Xiao told CNBC.
“At the same time from our side, we’ve shown from the UAE side how transparent we are and how we can guarantee the safety and the security of this technology.”
The conversation around tech partnerships is evolving rapidly as both nations aim to strengthen ties in AI and other advanced technologies. Notably, Microsoft signed a US$1.5 billion agreement with G42 earlier in 2024, and further cooperation was signaled by the joint US-UAE statement on AI released during a high-level Emirati delegation’s visit to Washington in September.
The UAE is not alone in the region with lofty ambitions in AI, as Saudi Arabia is also seeking access to cutting-edge US chips like Nvidia’s H200, hoping for similar developments in the near future.
