Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII) and Nvidia have formally launched a joint AI and robotics research laboratory, marking the debut of the first Nvidia AI Technology Center in the Middle East.

The lab will combine TII’s multidisciplinary research with Nvidia’s advanced AI models and computing power to develop humanoids, four-legged robots, robotic arms, and beyond.

Under the arrangement, TII will use Nvidia’s new Thor chip, designed for sophisticated robotic systems, especially at the edge.

Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, said the Thor chip “enables advanced robotic systems development”.

TII, part of the UAE’s Advanced Technology Research Council, has been strengthening its AI facilities for years.

The institute already uses Nvidia chips to train proprietary language models.

The new lab will bring in staff from both parties, with plans to expand hiring dedicated to robotics and AI research.

The UAE is pushing hard to become a global center for AI innovation, investing billions and forging strategic ties with U.S. firms.

That drive includes a large data center hub deal with Nvidia announced during Donald Trump’s Gulf visit in May, though finalizing that deal has been delayed amid security concerns tied to the UAE’s ties with China.

Discussions for the lab began around a year ago and now materialize in this center.

The ambition: ensure the UAE is not just a tech consumer but a developer of frontier AI and robotics platforms.

Research projects will include edge-GPU deployments and hardware-software integration for robots and AI systems tailored for varied environments.