TLDR: Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII) and NVIDIA have officially launched the Middle East’s first joint NVIDIA AI Technology Center (NVAITC) Lab for AI and Robotics. This collaboration aims to accelerate the development of next-generation AI models, robotics platforms, and humanoid technologies, positioning Abu Dhabi as a leader in applied AI and intelligent autonomous systems.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – In a significant stride towards advancing artificial intelligence and robotics, the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied research arm of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), has partnered with NVIDIA, a global leader in accelerated computing and AI, to inaugurate the Middle East’s first joint NVAITC AI and Robotics Lab. The announcement was made during a signing ceremony held at TII’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi on September 22, 2025, bringing together senior leaders from both organizations.
This landmark collaboration establishes a first-of-its-kind hub in the region, dedicated to developing next-generation AI models, robotics platforms, and humanoid technologies. The initiative is set to accelerate innovation across various industries and aligns with Abu Dhabi’s long-term strategy to foster technological sovereignty and shape the future of intelligent autonomous systems. It also underscores the UAE’s growing prominence as a global AI and Robotics leader, further highlighted by the recent US–UAE AI Acceleration Partnership.
The TII-NVAITC Joint Lab will integrate NVIDIA’s cutting-edge accelerated computing platforms and extensive expertise with TII’s multidisciplinary research capabilities in AI, robotics, autonomous systems, and high-performance computing. Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, emphasized the strategic importance of this partnership, stating, “This collaboration with NVIDIA marks a major step toward building AI-enhanced robotic systems capable of reasoning, adapting, and acting in complex environments.”
The research agenda for the lab is ambitious, focusing on advancing the field of Physical AI through embodied AI models, state-of-the-art robotics and humanoid stacks, and specialized hardware designed for real-time robotic systems. Key areas of investigation will include robotic learning and control at scale, as well as the development and integration of large language models. Notably, this includes TII’s own Falcon family of AI models, which are recognized as among the Middle East’s first and largest AI models.
Dr. Aaraj also revealed that TII will leverage specific edge Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) chips, such as NVIDIA’s ‘Thor’ chip, to further its research in robotics. “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,” Aaraj stated in an interview. TII, as the applied research unit of the ATRC, is actively engaged in developing humanoids, four-legged robots, and robotic arms, and has a history of utilizing NVIDIA chips for training its language models.
Carlo Ruiz, Vice President – Enterprise Solutions & Operations EMEA at NVIDIA, commented on the expansion of NVIDIA’s global network: “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.”
Also Read:
- UAE Public Prosecution Unveils AI Strategy at Global Tech Governance Summit
- Oracle to Showcase Enterprise-Ready AI Innovations at GITEX 2025, Bolstering UAE’s $96 Billion AI Economy
This joint lab represents a significant achievement for the region, solidifying Abu Dhabi’s position at the forefront of applied AI and contributing substantially to the global robotics ecosystem amidst the rapid evolution of AI capabilities.
