The Gulf has billions to spend on AI. It still needs Nvidia
Rest of World Indranil Ghosh
Saudi Arabia and the UAE are investing tens of billions of dollars in AI infrastructure but cannot escape dependence on Nvidia chips despite attempts to diversify suppliers. G42's Stargate data center in Abu Dhabi will run on 400,000 Nvidia chips, and Humain ordered 18,000 of Nvidia's newest Blackwell chips, as rivals lack the capabilities for training advanced AI models. The Gulf states are abandoning the pursuit of technological sovereignty and instead deepening integration with U.S. technology companies and Nvidia's proprietary ecosystem.
Why it matters
Saudi Arabia and the UAE are trying to diversify their AI supply chains, but geopolitical constraints and Nvidia's technological lead leave them with few viable alternatives.
