Microsoft Scores Major Win: 60,000 Nvidia GB300 Chips Approved for UAE Shipment Under Trump Era
Tech giant secures massive AI hardware export clearance in controversial political climate
WASHINGTON APPROVAL SHAKES UP GLOBAL TECH SUPPLY CHAINS
The U.S. government greenlit Microsoft's shipment of 60,000 cutting-edge Nvidia GB300 processors to the United Arab Emirates—a deal finalized during the Trump administration that's now reshaping Middle Eastern computing capabilities.
These aren't your average gaming chips. The GB300 represents Nvidia's latest AI-optimized architecture, capable of processing complex machine learning models that traditional processors struggle to handle.
POLITICAL CROSSWINDS FUEL TECH DIPLOMACY
The approval demonstrates how technology exports continue bridging geopolitical divides—even when administrations change. Sixty thousand units represents enough processing power to launch multiple sovereign AI initiatives overnight.
Meanwhile, Wall Street analysts wonder why it takes three administrations to approve what they call 'obvious strategic investments'—but then again, these are the same people who thought FTX was a solid retirement play.
Microsoft expands spending in UAE while U.S. deal-making fuels market moves
Microsoft also announced a massive ramp-up of spending in the region. The company said it plans to increase its total investment in the UAE to $15.2 billion by 2030.
This includes a $1.5 billion equity stake in AI firm G42, a company tied closely to Abu Dhabi’s tech push. It also includes $5.5 billion in capital expenses for expanding Microsoft’s cloud and AI infrastructure in the Middle East.
Speaking at the ADIPEC conference in Abu Dhabi, Microsoft President Brad Smith said, “We’re very grateful to the Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and the work that he has championed to enable export licenses to be made available to us.”
Smith added that the company’s ability to get this deal through came from building relationships across party lines, including Republican Marco Rubio and Democratic lawmakers. “It takes two parties to govern, and we keep that in mind,” he said.
Oxford Economics analyst Azad Zangana called the chips “crucial” for the UAE’s goal to become a global leader in AI. “Access to the world’s leading AI chips provides the hardware that will give developers the leading edge that is needed in an incredibly competitive global landscape,” he wrote in a note on Monday.
AI deals drive up tech stocks as chipmakers rally again
The announcement pushed Nvidia shares up 3%. Microsoft rose slightly. But the bigger wave hit the entire AI and chip sector.
On the same day, data center firm Iren said it had signed a $9.7 billion multiyear deal with Microsoft to supply Nvidia GB300 chips.
That news sent Iren’s stock up 12%, while Micron Technology ROSE 4%, Nvidia added 2%, and the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) climbed almost 1%.
The wider market saw a smaller lift. The Nasdaq rose 0.4%, while the S&P 500 inched up 0.1%. The Dow Jones dropped 243 points, or 0.5%, as weak breadth across other sectors dragged it down.
More than 400 S&P 500 companies finished in the red Monday, even with AI trades pushing tech higher.
That includes Amazon, which jumped 4% after its $38 billion deal with OpenAI, a partnership expected to use hundreds of thousands of Nvidia GPUs.
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