Advanced NVIDIA Chips Land in Riyadh
The latest NVIDIA AI GPU chips have officially arrived in Saudi Arabia, a development confirmed by Tareq Amin, CEO of the Saudi artificial intelligence company HUMAIN. Amin announced the arrival on December 29, 2025, via social media, stating that the team is focused on 'rapid deployment, ensuring everything is up and running before the start of the new year.' This delivery is a crucial component of Saudi Arabia's ambitious plans to establish itself as a leading global AI infrastructure provider.
Strategic Partnership and Deployment Scale
HUMAIN, launched in May 2025 by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), is at the forefront of this initiative. The company aims to develop and manage advanced AI technologies and build an integrated AI-powered digital ecosystem as part of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy. The newly arrived NVIDIA chips are essential for strengthening HUMAIN's capacity to train and run large-scale AI models. Under an expanded strategic partnership announced in November, HUMAIN plans to deploy up to 600,000 NVIDIA AI infrastructure units over the next three years, including the cutting-edge GB300 platforms. Earlier agreements also mentioned the deployment of 18,000 NVIDIA H100 chips and an 18,000 NVIDIA GB300 Grace Blackwell AI supercomputer in the initial phase.
Washington-Riyadh Deals Pave the Way
The arrival of these highly sought-after chips follows new deals between Washington and Riyadh. The US Department of Commerce approved the export of advanced NVIDIA chips to HUMAIN, signaling a recalibration of US-Saudi relations with a focus on technology cooperation. This strategic shift aims to anchor Saudi Arabia to US hardware and software, fostering a US-aligned AI hub in the Gulf. Previously, US export restrictions had been placed on high-performance NVIDIA chips like the A100 and H100 to certain Middle Eastern countries, making these recent approvals particularly significant.
Broader Collaborations for AI Dominance
Beyond its partnership with NVIDIA, HUMAIN is actively forging other key alliances to realize its vision. The company has a landmark agreement with US-based Qualcomm Technologies to deliver global AI inferencing services through an edge-to-cloud hybrid AI platform. Furthermore, HUMAIN is collaborating with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to create a dedicated AI Zone in Riyadh, which will deploy and manage up to 150,000 NVIDIA GPUs. The Saudi AI firm is also working with xAI to develop large-scale data centers in Saudi Arabia, including a flagship facility exceeding 500 megawatts. These multi-faceted partnerships underscore Saudi Arabia's commitment to building a robust and comprehensive AI ecosystem, with the ultimate goal of becoming the world's third-largest AI infrastructure provider.
5 Comments
Bella Ciao
While Saudi Arabia's economic diversification through AI is commendable, the ethical implications of such powerful technology in a less democratic state warrant careful consideration.
Comandante
A huge step forward for global AI development. Exciting times ahead!
ZmeeLove
Great to see US and Saudi Arabia collaborating on cutting-edge tech. Win-win!
Habibi
This solidifies their position as a tech hub. Impressive scale and ambition!
Coccinella
The strategic partnership with the US for AI development is significant for regional stability, but it also creates a strong dependency that could have unforeseen geopolitical consequences down the line.