UAE: Abu Dhabi’s TII and Nvidia launch middle east’s first AI & robotics research lab

Abu Dhabi's Technology Innovation Institute (TII) has partnered with U.S. chipmaker Nvidia to establish the Middle East’s first joint AI research facility. This strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone in the UAE’s growing efforts to become a global force in artificial intelligence and robotics innovation.

The newly launched joint research lab, officially called the TII–Nvidia AI Technology Centre (NVAITC), is located in Abu Dhabi and represents the first of its kind in the Middle East. This collaboration brings together TII’s multidisciplinary research expertise in artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous systems, and high-performance computing, with Nvidia’s advanced AI models and accelerated computing platforms.According to TII CEO Dr. Najwa Aaraj, the lab will focus on the development of next-generation AI models, humanoid technologies, robotics platforms, and intelligent systems capable of operating in complex, real-world environments.The partnership is designed to integrate advanced robotic platforms with cutting-edge AI tools, driving progress in areas such as:

This lab also marks a pivotal shift in the region’s AI landscape as it’s the first time Nvidia’s NVAITC network is expanding into robotics in the Middle East.

Carlo Ruiz, Nvidia's VP of Enterprise Solutions and Operations for EMEA, highlighted that the initiative aims to accelerate real-world breakthroughs in intelligent systems.

A major highlight of the collaboration is the use of Nvidia’s Thor chip, a powerful edge GPU designed specifically for advanced robotic systems development. This chip, which TII will newly incorporate into its projects, is expected to play a crucial role in accelerating robotic innovation.TII is currently conducting R&D on a diverse portfolio of robotic systems, including:

By leveraging the Thor chip and Nvidia’s computing infrastructure, TII aims to advance both the hardware and AI software integration of its robotic systems, with a focus on enabling these machines to reason, adapt, and act autonomously in real-time.Additionally, TII has already been using Nvidia’s chips to train its proprietary Falcon large language model (LLM) family, which is part of the UAE’s broader efforts to build national AI capabilities.

This lab launch fits into the UAE’s long-term vision to become a global hub for artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. The country’s AI strategy is structured around several national frameworks:

Earlier in 2025, the UAE and U.S. governments signed the AI Acceleration Partnership, reinforcing cooperation on critical technologies and announcing a joint initiative for a 5-gigawatt UAE–US AI Campus.This broader geopolitical backdrop also included a multi-billion-dollar agreement — signed during former U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the Gulf in May — to build one of the world’s largest data centre hubs in Abu Dhabi, powered by U.S. technologies and advanced Nvidia chips. However, the finalisation of this deal has faced delays, reportedly due to security concerns related to the UAE’s ties with China.

Discussions to establish the joint lab began approximately a year ago. Now operational, the facility will be staffed by a dedicated team comprising experts from both TII and Nvidia. Additional hiring is underway to expand the project-specific workforce and support the lab's ongoing research objectives.The lab will serve as a central node in Nvidia’s global NVAITC network, and a regional hub for applied research, particularly in real-world AI and robotics deployments. It aims to not only support innovation but also contribute directly to the development of intelligent machines and systems with high levels of autonomy and functional complexity.