During President Trump’s Middle East tour, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar announced $2 trillion in deals aimed at establishing themselves as tech superpowers, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI). Saudi Arabia pledged $600 billion, Qatar $1.2 trillion, and the UAE added $200 billion to its existing AI initiatives. Major tech firms like Nvidia and Google secured contracts for AI research and infrastructure projects.
Success will hinge on turning investments into tangible outcomes, addressing talent shortages and regulatory gaps, according to tech experts. While the UAE has already seen results from its early initiatives, Saudi Arabia aims for ambitious megaprojects, such as the futuristic city of Neom. Qatar focuses on specialized sectors like defense and quantum computing.
Despite varying speeds of development, experts agree that the Gulf region’s unique strategies, coupled with U.S. partnerships, will be critical in elevating its status in the global AI landscape. The region is poised for transformation beyond oil dependence.
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