UAE
Space42 & Viasat to launch D2D-focused venture Equatys
UAE-based Space42 and global satellite provider Viasat have announced the formation of a new JV, Equatys, aimed at delivering global Direct-to-Device (D2D) connectivity. Built on 3GPP-compliant Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) technology, Equatys will integrate satellite and terrestrial networks to provide seamless 5G coverage to standard smartphones and IoT devices worldwide. Operating as a neutral “space tower” company, Equatys will use a shared multi-tenant model to deliver cost-efficient, scalable infrastructure, reduce investment risk, and support national data sovereignty. With backing from over 100 MHz of harmonized MSS spectrum across 160+ markets, the venture plans a full commercial rollout within three years, promising to transform global connectivity and empower digital economies…Read more
NVIDIA to open Middle East research centre in Abu Dhabi
Nvidia has partnered with Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII) to launch its first research hub in the Middle East, the TII-NVAITC (Nvidia AI Technology Center). The joint lab will focus on advancing AI and robotics, with key research areas including robotic learning and the integration of LLMs like TII’s Falcon AI family. Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, emphasised that combining cutting-edge robotics with powerful AI and compute will accelerate the rise of intelligent machines. This collaboration marks a significant step in the UAE’s push to strengthen its AI capabilities and gain access to Nvidia’s advanced chips, an ongoing effort that continues amid delayed chip delivery negotiations with the US…Read more
UAE companies back $100Mn fund for global AI push
Abu Dhabi-listed tech company Presight has partnered with Sharjah-backed Shorooq to launch the $100Mn Presight-Shorooq Fund I, aimed at investing in AI ventures worldwide. Based in Abu Dhabi Global Market, the fund will focus on sectors like smart cities, energy, fintech, gaming, and deep tech, supporting the UAE’s ambition to become a global AI hub. Presight CEO Thomas Pramotedham emphasised the fund’s goal to back transformative AI entrepreneurs from Silicon Valley to Southeast Asia. Presight, majority-owned by state-backed G42, continues to play a key role in advancing the UAE’s AI ecosystem, amid growing regional momentum including MGX’s $25Bn AI initiative and participation in the US Stargate project…Read more
MGX in group buying majority stake in Intel’s Altera
Emirati tech investment firm MGX has joined a Silver Lake-led consortium to acquire a 51% stake in US chipmaker Altera, with Intel retaining the remaining 49%. While MGX did not disclose its investment amount, the deal values Altera at $8.75Bn and marks a significant move in the global semiconductor space. MGX, backed by Mubadala and G42 and chaired by UAE national security adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, continues to expand its international footprint following its involvement in major AI and infrastructure initiatives like the $500Bn Stargate project and the $30Bn Global AI Infrastructure Partnership…Read more
Saudi Arabia
US risks losing out to China in Saudi AI chip market
As the US delays finalising critical semiconductor export deals with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, experts warn that time is running out, and China is closing in fast. With billions of dollars in AI and chip commitments hanging in the balance, Washington faces a strategic dilemma: how to secure its technological edge while navigating concerns over IP security and Gulf states’ potential backchannel ties to Beijing. The stalled Nvidia-Humain deal is emblematic of this friction, highlighting both the US’s deep technological lead and its bureaucratic hesitation. Meanwhile, China, having already outpaced the West in 5G and legacy chips, is inching closer to competing in next-gen AI infrastructure. Its willingness to indigenise and transfer technology is winning over partners who are no longer content with “crumbs,” as one expert put it. For the US, the opportunity to be the Gulf’s AI partner of choice is still open, but fleeting. Failure to act decisively could cede a critical geopolitical and technological frontier to Beijing – one chip at a time…Read more
Interesting News
NVIDIA set to invest $100Bn in OpenAI
NVIDIA and OpenAI are deepening their relationship, with a LoI that could see OpenAI deploy 10GW of NVIDIA’s GPUs, backed by a potential $10Bn per GW investment from the chipmaker. While a formal deal has not been signed, this move signals more than just infrastructure expansion. For NVIDIA, it is a strategic hedge, locking in long-term demand for its hardware, ensuring OpenAI’s loyalty amid rising competition from AMD and others, and reinforcing its dominance in AI infrastructure. With each AI data centre costing an estimated $50Bn per GW, $35Bn of which typically goes to NVIDIA, OpenAI still faces a major funding gap, likely filled in part by Oracle. The cloud giant has already committed to building 4.5GW of capacity and recently inked a $300Bn deal with OpenAI starting in 2027. If NVIDIA formalises its investment, it effectively closes a powerful ecosystem loop – NVIDIA supplies the chips, Oracle builds the infrastructure, and OpenAI drives demand – solidifying each player’s role in the AI boom. Such a move could also help Oracle unlock its massive $455Bn in future obligations, much of it tied to OpenAI, and help NVIDIA safeguard its position at the top of the AI value chain…Read more