The US just gave the United Arab Emirates something its neighbors can only dream about: unrestricted access to the most advanced AI chips on the planet. The Commerce Department announced a sweeping policy change around July 10-11, 2026, easing export controls on advanced technologies for the UAE, effectively removing the license requirement for AI chips, military equipment, commercial satellites, and dual-use items.
The timing is not subtle. The UAE has been supporting US military operations against Iran, and Washington is returning the favor with the kind of tech access that turns a wealthy Gulf state into a potential AI superpower.
What the deal actually includes
The new policy allows both UAE government entities and specific companies to import advanced AI chips without going through the usual licensing gauntlet. The beneficiary list reads like a tech industry all-star roster: G42 and Core42 on the UAE side, plus Amazon, Apple, xAI, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Oracle on the American side.
This builds on a 2025 bilateral agreement that had already opened the door for the UAE to import hundreds of thousands of Nvidia AI chips. The new policy essentially kicks that door off its hinges.
