AI as Strategy. The Middle East Reshaping Global Power.

In a region defined by resource wealth and ambition, the Middle East is betting big on artificial intelligence. But AI isn't just a tech trend here, it's a strategic necessity. As the world pivots toward knowledge economies, Middle Eastern countries, particularly in the Gulf, are moving with speed and purpose to diversify beyond oil and build technological muscle. Access to AI tools and infrastructure isn’t a luxury, it’s a lever of power, influence, and sovereignty.

The AI Diplomacy Shift
The recent visit to the region by Donald Trump tight up a necessary symbiosis between capital investment and edge technology development. The mission? AI diplomacy. The message was clear: these nations aren’t content being passive consumers of technology, they want to be co-architects of the AI age.

This intent aligns with a broader vision: young, Western-educated leaders across the Gulf (UAE and Saudi Arabia) are aggressively investing in tech. They’ve got capital, long-term vision, and an open door to strategic partnerships. But access to critical technologies, like semiconductors and advanced compute infrastructure has been politically fraught.

GPU Access, a Strategic Misstep
U.S. export controls on GPUs since late 2023 restrained regional AI ambitions. Under the guise of national security, the restrictions slowed down data center projects and unintentionally pushed Middle Eastern allies toward Chinese alternatives like Huawei and DeepSeek. From a geopolitical standpoint, this was short-sighted. Alienating resource-rich, tech-hungry allies only opens the door wider for China to expand its influence.

The AI Trade-Off
The recent recalibration in U.S. policy a new “AI acceleration framework” recognizes this mistake. The framework allows for GPU access but under specific terms: for every dollar invested in AI infrastructure in the Middle East, there must be a matching investment in U.S.based AI development. It’s a clever two-way street: American companies operate and own the bulk of the chips, U.S. infrastructure gets supercharged, and the Middle East gets access to the tools needed to build.

This isn’t just smart geopolitics, it’s strategic market control. By locking countries into the U.S. tech stack of semiconductors and hyperscalers (Nvidia, AMD, OpenAI, AWS, Azure, etc.), the U.S. secures global standards and curbs China’s momentum. The OpenAI-G42 deal for a massive 5GW data center in Abu Dhabi is just the beginning. The UAE's move to offer free ChatGPT Plus access is another signal: the country wants to democratize AI literacy quickly and at scale.

Looking Ahead: A Strategic Alliance
The Middle East’s role in the AI race is no longer peripheral. It’s central, and growing. These countries are not just investors, they’re builders, co-owners, and early adopters. With sovereign wealth backing and a clear national vision, AI is becoming part of their core economic identity.

The future will likely see even deeper integration between U.S. and Middle Eastern tech ecosystems, shared R&D, cross-border data infrastructure, and co-developed platforms. This alliance will not only help these nations modernize their economies but also reshape global power dynamics in tech.

Access to AI isn’t about apps or chatbots. It’s about strategic autonomy. The Middle East understands this, finally, so does the United States.

Engage: https://pablojaviersalgado.substack.com/p/ai-as-strategy?r=5bgj9e