AI News Monitor

Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed al Nahyan, the UAE’s national security adviser and intelligence chief, is leveraging his control over a $1.5 trillion sovereign wealth empire to transform the United Arab Emirates into an AI powerhouse. Known for his strategic mind and obsession with technology, Tahnoun, who once co-piloted a chess-playing AI called Hydra, is now seeking to dominate the global AI arms race.

A key figure in the UAE’s tech and surveillance sectors, Tahnoun runs G42, a conglomerate involved in everything from AI research to biotechnology, and has close ties with both American and Chinese tech companies. However, after the US restricted exports of critical Nvidia chips to the Middle East, Tahnoun pivoted towards deepening ties with American tech giants, offering billions in investment to companies like Microsoft and forming strategic partnerships.

According to the Wire , “Any American AI partnership with the UAE is, in some way, a relationship with Sheikh Tahnoun himself—and for years many of Tahnoun’s most important technology partners have been Chinese.” In a notable deal, Microsoft invested $1.5 billion in G42 in 2024, marking the first step in a broader effort to integrate Tahnoun’s AI ambitions with US technology. As part of the agreement, G42 gained access to Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform, and Microsoft’s president joined G42’s board. This move, seen as a seal of approval from the US government, signals a shift in US-UAE relations as Tahnoun pushes forward with his plans to establish the UAE as a leading AI hub.

Despite concerns over national security and human rights, the UAE is positioning itself as a key player in the global AI race. Tahnoun’s drive is supported by the UAE’s vast oil wealth, energy resources, and a growing AI sector, making it an attractive partner for tech companies worldwide. However, his connections with China and the UAE’s authoritarian track record have raised alarm within US security circles, with critics wary of the potential for intellectual property leaks and AI tools being used for state surveillance.

With the UAE’s MGX fund, backed by BlackRock, Microsoft, and other global players, set to invest over $100 billion in AI infrastructure, Tahnoun’s ambitions to reshape the AI landscape are well underway. The question remains: will the world’s AI future be shaped by a mix of American ingenuity and UAE wealth, or will Tahnoun’s geopolitical games pose new risks to global security?