BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
The launch of the TII-NVAITC Joint Lab positions the UAE at the forefront of AI and robotics innovation in the Middle East, according to experts.
The lab, a collaboration between Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII) and NVIDIA, marks the region’s first research centre to integrate advanced AI models with robotics and autonomous systems under one roof. It combines TII’s multidisciplinary research capabilities with NVIDIA’s high-performance platforms to advance next-generation AI models, robotics, and humanoid technologies.
The initiative aims to develop applied AI research, foster local talent, and accelerate commercial deployment across sectors such as logistics, energy, and smart cities.
Mansoor Al Hammadi, an AI innovator and engineer, said the lab firmly places the UAE at the forefront of AI and robotics innovation in the region by combining world-class infrastructure, cutting-edge research, and strategic global partnerships.
“The lab directly supports Vision 2031 by accelerating the UAE’s transition into a knowledge-based, digital-first economy,” Al Hammadi told Aletihad.
“Breakthroughs in AI and robotics from this collaboration will enhance innovation in strategic sectors like healthcare and transportation, strengthening national competitiveness,” he noted.
Al Hammadi said the lab also positions the UAE as an exporter of advanced technologies, rather than just an adopter by focusing on applied research with global relevance. This, he added, aligns with the vision of making the UAE a global hub for the digital economy and a leading player in shaping the future of technology.
“Young Emirati professionals and students will gain access to real-world testbeds and mentorship opportunities that would otherwise only be available abroad. Over time, this will help build a self-sustaining pipeline of AI and robotics experts, reducing dependency on external talent and ensuring the UAE cultivates its own next generation of innovators and engineers,” he said.
Artificial intelligence expert Dr. Zaid Rababaah said the initiative demonstrates that “Abu Dhabi is not only investing in AI theory but also building embodied systems, humanoids, robot arms, delivery bots, bridging perception, control, and language”.
“This integrated approach gives the UAE an innovation lead in research, in attracting talent, and in enabling industrial applications to scale faster than competitors who treat robotics and AI separately,” he told Aletihad.
Dr. Rababaah pointed out that this will offer Emirati researchers and practitioners hands-on access to state-of-the-art tools and complex robotics platforms.
“This exposure accelerates learning curves. The lab encourages interdisciplinary training [AI, robotics, control systems, hardware], which broadens capabilities. It will also attract international partnerships, raise standards and allow knowledge transfer to local talent,” he said.
On the technological potential, Dr. Rababaah explained how TII’s Falcon AI models can transform key industries (logistics, energy, smart cities), when combined with NVIDIA’s high-performance computing and accelerated platforms. This will enhance perception, prediction and decision-making capabilities in real-time robotic systems, he said. Carlo Ruiz, Vice President of Enterprise Solutions and Operations for EMEA at NVIDIA, said in a statement: “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 centres into robotics for the first time in the Middle East, helping researchers and innovators accelerate breakthroughs that will shape the future of intelligent systems.”