Abu Dhabi’s «TII» and «NVIDIA» Launch Middle East’s First Joint AI & Robotics NVAITC Research Lab
Mustafa Eid, Abu Dhabi, UAE – Monday, 22. September 2025:
The Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied research arm of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), partnered with «NVIDIA», the world leader in accelerated computing and AI. Together, they launched the Middle East’s first Joint Lab for artificial intelligence and robotics. This groundbreaking initiative sets a new hub for next-generation AI models, robotics platforms, and humanoid technologies that will drive innovation across multiple industries.
Signing Ceremony Highlights
The announcement of the TII–NVAITC Joint Lab came during a signing ceremony at TII’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi. Senior leaders from both organizations attended the event. Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, and Marc Domenech, Regional Director, Enterprise – META Region at «NVIDIA», signed the agreement.
Key figures present included H.E. Shahab Abu Shahab, Director General at ATRC, H.E. Abdulaziz Al Dosari, Executive Director of Support Services at ATRC, John Josephakis, Global VP of Sales and Business Development for HPC/Supercomputing at «NVIDIA», and Simon See, Global Head of the «NVIDIA» AI Technology Center. This moment represented a milestone in the UAE’s AI and robotics journey.
«NVIDIA» Strengthening Abu Dhabi’s Position
This collaboration places Abu Dhabi at the forefront of applied AI. It aligns with the emirate’s long-term strategy to enhance technological sovereignty and shape the future of intelligent autonomous systems. Furthermore, it underscores the UAE’s role as a global AI and robotics leader. Recent initiatives, such as the US–UAE AI Acceleration Partnership, reinforce this growing leadership.
Vision from TII Leadership
Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, stated:
“This collaboration with «NVIDIA» marks a major step toward building AI-driven robotic systems capable of reasoning, adapting, and operating in complex environments. By combining our advanced robotic platforms with powerful AI models and compute, we accelerate the convergence of perception, control, and language. This lays the foundation for a new era of intelligent machines.”
The Joint Lab’s Focus Areas
The TII–NVAITC Joint Lab integrates «NVIDIA» accelerated computing platforms with TII’s research in AI, robotics, autonomous systems, and high-performance computing. It represents the first «NVIDIA» AI Technology Center in the Middle East.
Both organizations will jointly develop embodied AI models, humanoid robotics, and hardware designed for real-time robotic systems. Their research will also explore robotic learning at scale and the integration of large language models, including TII’s Falcon AI family – the largest developed in the Middle East.
Insights from «NVIDIA»
Carlo Ruiz, Vice President – Enterprise Solutions & Operations EMEA at «NVIDIA», commented:
“The launch of the TII–NVAITC for AI and Robotics opens a new chapter in our global network. By collaborating with TII in Abu Dhabi, we are expanding into robotics for the first time in the Middle East. This step helps researchers and innovators accelerate discoveries that will shape the future of intelligent systems.”
Advancing Applied AI
This lab is part of TII’s broader strategy to advance applied AI and robotics with practical, real-world impact. At its core lies open innovation and global knowledge exchange. TII and «NVIDIA» will collaborate on open-source projects and research through the global NVAITC community.
The lab also builds on TII’s modular robotic platforms and tested components, including robotic arms and delivery robots. With a focus on readiness and excellence, it bridges advanced research with practical deployment.
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