US microchip maker Nvidia has joined forces with Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII) to establish the Middle East’s first joint AI and robotics lab in the Emirati capital as the UAE looks to cement its role in the global AI race.

What happened: The TII, the applied research arm of Abu Dhabi government's Advanced Technology Research Council, said in a statement Monday that the new lab would be a “first-of-its-kind hub in the region for developing next-generation AI models, robotics platforms and humanoid technologies that will accelerate innovation across industries.”

The facility was unveiled Monday at TII’s Abu Dhabi headquarters, with Nvidia's regional enterprise director for the Middle East, Turkey and Africa, Marc Domenech, TII CEO Najwa Aaraj and other senior council and Nvidia officials in attendance.

The lab will integrate Nvidia’s accelerated computing platforms and expertise with TII’s multidisciplinary research in AI, robotics, autonomous systems and high-performance computing, the statement said.  Research at the facility will include robotic learning and control as well as the development and integration of large language models including TII’s Falcon family of AI models.