The UAE is poised to “become a heavyweight in AI in the years to come,” UAE AI and Digital Economy State Minister Omar Al Olama told Bloomberg (watch, runtime: 4:02). The UAE is a “preferred partner to produce semiconductors,” Al Olama said, citing its trading partnerships and safe political environment.

Al Olama also said US concerns over potential security threats that could come from moving advanced chip technology from the region to China are founded during the interview (watch, runtime: 3:12). The UAE has proven to be a “strategic partner” with the US, he added.

REMEMBER- The UAE is in line for big AI investments and exports from the US. Microsoft is investing some USD 1.5 bn in G42 to position the UAE as a “global AI hub,” and a “second phase” of the agreement could see the US tech giant exporting large-scale AI components from the US to the UAE, which will require licenses, we reported earlier. G42 has already cut ties with Chinese businesses in a bid to reportedly appease US partners, and there were suggestions it could also give up its use of Huawei telecom equipment.

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