Abu Dhabi and NVIDIA Forge Ahead: Launch of Middle East's Premier AI and Robotics Lab Signals New Era for Innovation

Abu Dhabi is rapidly solidifying its position as a global hub for artificial intelligence and advanced technology with the inauguration of the Middle East's first joint AI and robotics research laboratory. This pioneering initiative, a collaboration between the UAE's Technology Innovation Institute (TII) and the global technology giant NVIDIA, marks a significant leap forward in the region's pursuit of technological sovereignty and leadership in intelligent autonomous systems.

A Landmark Collaboration in AI and Robotics

The TII-NVIDIA AI Technology Center (NVAITC) Joint Lab for AI and Robotics was officially launched following a signing ceremony at TII's headquarters in Abu Dhabi. This momentous occasion brought together senior leadership from both organizations, including Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, and Marc Domenech, Regional Director for the META Region at NVIDIA. The agreement underscores a shared vision to accelerate innovation at the intersection of artificial intelligence and robotics, pushing the boundaries of what intelligent machines can achieve.

This collaboration is more than just a research facility; it represents Abu Dhabi's strategic alignment with its long-term vision to foster technological advancement and shape the future of autonomous systems. It also reinforces the UAE's growing prominence on the global AI stage, a trajectory highlighted by recent initiatives such as the US–UAE AI Acceleration Partnership. By establishing this lab, the UAE is positioning itself as a key contributor to the global robotics ecosystem at a time when AI capabilities are evolving at an unprecedented pace.

Advancing Physical AI and Intelligent Machines

At the heart of the TII-NVAITC Joint Lab is the ambition to advance the field of "Physical AI." This involves the seamless integration of advanced AI models with physical robotic systems, enabling machines to perceive, reason, adapt, and act within complex real-world environments. The lab will harness NVIDIA's state-of-the-art accelerated computing platforms and deep expertise in AI, coupled with TII's multidisciplinary research strengths in robotics, autonomous systems, and high-performance computing.

“This collaboration with NVIDIA marks a major step toward building AI-enhanced robotic systems capable of reasoning, adapting, and acting in complex environments,” stated Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII. “By combining our advanced robotic platforms with powerful AI models and compute, we are accelerating the convergence of perception, control, and language – laying the foundation for a new era of intelligent machines.”

The research agenda will span critical areas such as robotic learning and control at scale, the development and integration of large language models (LLMs), and the creation of hardware specifically designed for real-time robotic systems. A key focus will be on leveraging TII's own advancements, including its Falcon family of AI models – recognized as the Middle East's first and largest AI models – to imbue robots with sophisticated language understanding and reasoning capabilities.

Leveraging Cutting-Edge Technology for Robotics R&D

The TII-NVAITC Joint Lab will serve as a nexus for cutting-edge technological exploration. NVIDIA's contribution includes access to its powerful accelerated computing platforms, which are the backbone of modern AI development. This will empower TII researchers to train complex AI models and deploy them in sophisticated robotic applications. Notably, the lab will utilize NVIDIA's advanced edge GPU chips, including the recently announced "Thor" superchip, which is specifically designed to enable advanced robotic systems development.

Dr. Aaraj highlighted the significance of the Thor chip, stating, "It will be a chip that we will newly use... It's called the Thor chip, and it is a chip that enables advanced robotic systems development." This access to next-generation hardware will be instrumental in advancing research on TII's existing modular robotic platforms, which include robotic arms and "delivery dogs" designed for last-mile logistics, as well as in the development of new humanoid and legged robots.

Carlo Ruiz, Vice President of Enterprise Solutions & Operations EMEA at NVIDIA, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, noting, "The launch of the TII-NVAITC for AI and Robotics marks a new chapter in our global NVAITC network. By working with TII in Abu Dhabi, we are expanding the scope of these centers into robotics for the first time in the Middle East – helping researchers and innovators accelerate breakthroughs that will shape the future of intelligent systems.”

Strategic Alignment and Open Innovation

The establishment of this lab aligns perfectly with Abu Dhabi's broader strategic objectives. The emirate is committed to advancing technological sovereignty, ensuring it has the indigenous capabilities to develop and deploy cutting-edge AI solutions. This initiative also supports the UAE's national AI strategy, which aims to position the country as a leading digital economy and a global AI hub.

A core principle guiding the TII-NVIDIA collaboration is a commitment to open innovation and global knowledge exchange. TII and NVIDIA will actively collaborate on joint research projects, contribute to open-source initiatives, and foster cross-network learning through NVIDIA's global NVAITC community. This collaborative approach is expected to accelerate the pace of discovery and ensure that research outputs are not only technically excellent but also practically ready for real-world deployment.

The research conducted at the lab is anticipated to span a wide range of applications, from improving robotic learning and control at scale to developing and integrating LLMs. The ultimate goal is to create intelligent systems that can deliver tangible real-world impact across various industries, including transportation, logistics, healthcare, energy, and climate modeling. By fostering a culture of collaboration and open innovation, the TII-NVAITC Joint Lab aims to become a beacon of AI and robotics advancement in the Middle East and beyond.