Abu Dhabi Launches First AI & Robotics Joint Lab

Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII) has partnered with NVIDIA to launch the Middle East’s first Joint Lab dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. The TII-NVAITC (NVIDIA AI Technology Center) Joint Lab aims to develop next-generation AI models, robotics platforms, and humanoid technologies to drive innovation across industries.

The partnership was announced during a signing ceremony at TII’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The agreement was signed by Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, and Marc Domenech, Regional Director, Enterprise – META Region at NVIDIA. Key attendees included Shahab Abu Shahab, Director General at ATRC; 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 NVIDIA AI Technology Centre.

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“This collaboration with NVIDIA marks a major step toward building AI-enhanced robotic systems capable of reasoning, adapting, and acting in complex environments,” said Dr. Aaraj. “By combining our advanced robotic platforms with powerful AI models and compute, we are accelerating the convergence of perception, control, and language – laying the foundation for a new era of intelligent machines.”

The lab will integrate NVIDIA’s accelerated computing platforms with TII’s multidisciplinary research in AI, robotics, autonomous systems, and high-performance computing. It will support the development of embodied AI models, state-of-the-art robotics and humanoid technologies, and hardware designed for real-time robotic systems. Research areas include robotic learning and control at scale, as well as integration with large language models such as TII’s Falcon AI models.

Carlo Ruiz, Vice President – Enterprise Solutions & Operations EMEA at NVIDIA, said: “The launch of the TII-NVAITC for AI and Robotics marks a new chapter in our global NVAITC network. By working with TII in Abu Dhabi, we are expanding the scope of these centers into robotics for the first time in the Middle East – helping researchers and innovators accelerate breakthroughs that will shape the future of intelligent systems.”

The initiative aligns with Abu Dhabi’s strategy to advance technological sovereignty and positions the UAE as a global leader in AI and robotics. The lab also builds on TII’s existing modular robotic platforms, including robotic arms and delivery robots, emphasizing research that balances technical excellence with practical applications.

The TII-NVAITC Joint Lab is the first NVAITC facility in the Middle East and will participate in global knowledge exchange, open-source initiatives, and cross-network learning through NVIDIA’s international NVAITC network.