Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s national security adviser, is set to visit Washington to advocate for greater access to advanced US technology, particularly Nvidia’s AI chips. His visit aims to address the Trump administration’s export restrictions on high-end semiconductors, which are vital for the UAE’s AI ambitions.
Sheikh Tahnoon is expected to meet top US officials, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. It remains unclear if he will meet President Trump.
The UAE has invested heavily in AI infrastructure and sees unrestricted chip access as crucial for its vision of becoming a regional AI hub. However, US regulations since 2023 have limited chip exports, and new rules further cap computing power for most countries. Trump’s administration is reviewing these policies and considering potential revisions.
A key part of the UAE’s pitch includes highlighting its planned US investments, such as Abu Dhabi-based MGX’s involvement in a $100 billion AI infrastructure initiative launched under Trump.
Sheikh Tahnoon oversees a vast $1.5 trillion business empire, including AI firm G42, investment firm Royal Group, and First Abu Dhabi Bank. Whether additional investment deals will be announced during his trip remains uncertain.
Sheikh Tahnoon’s visit coincides with the holy month of Ramadan and comes at the request of the Trump administration, which has begun reevaluating global chip controls. The previous Biden administration had categorized the UAE under a mid-tier chip access framework, restricting its semiconductor purchases.
In response, the UAE made efforts to distance itself from Chinese tech firms, including G42’s divestment from Huawei, which facilitated a $1.5 billion investment from Microsoft.
