UAE Bets on US in AI Race, Aligning with Washington Amid Tech Rivalry

The United Arab Emirates has chosen to align with the United States in the global race for artificial intelligence dominance, according to political analyst and AI expert Obaid Al Zaabi. He stated that while the US and China are the primary players in AI development, the UAE and Israel are the key actors in the Middle East.

Al Zaabi explained that the UAE is not aiming to compete directly with the US in developing advanced AI models or chips. Instead, its strategy focuses on building the necessary infrastructure to support AI technologies, leveraging its energy resources, capital, and growing computing infrastructure. The UAE intends to become a central hub for computing power, attracting it from West Asia, North Africa, East Africa, Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and the Balkans.

This strategy heavily relies on access to advanced chips, a sector where the US holds a dominant position. Al Zaabi emphasized that the US controls the chips, agents, and models, as well as chip production, making it a crucial partner. He noted that the strategic importance of AI has made neutrality difficult, forcing the UAE to choose between the US and China. "The United States made it clear: if you want to be part of the AI revolution, you have to do it exclusively with them. So the UAE had to choose, we chose the United States," Al Zaabi said.

He anticipates a broader technological division between the US and China, extending beyond individual AI models to supporting infrastructure like competing satellite systems. Countries that remain neutral may face significant disadvantages. The UAE's goal is to secure a stake in the infrastructure behind American AI, contributing in a way that grants it ownership or a share in the system.

Ultimately, the UAE aims to become a regional center for American AI, developing the energy, computing, and political infrastructure to serve as a hub for US AI in Asia and the Middle East. This move positions computing power as a strategic resource, mirroring the impact of previous infrastructure shifts on the Gulf economy. As US-China competition intensifies, the UAE is betting on AI and the correct side of the emerging technological divide.