US decision to raise UAE export status will strengthen AI security, Core42 says

The United States’ decision on July 10 to upgrade the United Arab Emirates to A5 export status — easing transfers of military equipment, satellites, spacecraft, artificial intelligence and energy technology — will strengthen AI security measures in the Emirates rather than weaken them, Core42 chief executive Talal Al Kaissi said. The elevated designation followed months of cooperation between US and UAE officials and comes shortly after the arrival of high-performance Nvidia chips in the UAE in May 2026.

"I've seen pockets of commentary from folks saying that as a result of this well-earned recognition by the US government of the 'gold standard (as the US Department of State put it), implementation of our regulated technology environment will somehow relax our compliance and security posture," Mr Al Kaissi said on social media. "This makes no sense and is inaccurate."

Al Kaissi, who leads Core42, a unit of UAE AI company G42, made the remarks following an appearance at the Aspen Security Forum where he discussed the bilateral steps underpinning the new export status. He said the UAE's regulated technology environment was designed with input from the US government and from Microsoft, which holds a minority stake in G42, and that the arrangements include both physical and logical security safeguards to prevent diversion and unauthorised access.

Key developments and institutional context

• July 10, 2026: US reclassifies the UAE as an A5 country, enabling expanded exports of advanced technologies.
• May 2026: First shipments of Nvidia chips arrive in the UAE, marking a milestone in AI infrastructure buildout.
• 2025: Announcement of plans for a 5GW UAE-US AI Campus during a presidential visit.
• 2019–2021: UAE establishes the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (2019) and earlier created a Minister of State for AI; Omar Al Olama is now Minister of State for AI, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications.

UAE Minister of State and ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba described the shift in export status as an affirmation of long-standing cooperation, saying the UAE is "all-in on American tech. We are not hedging, we are not diversifying, we're doubling down on it." He called the US–UAE AI partnership "the most consequential economic partnership of this decade."

The agreement that enabled the reclassification reportedly included an intergovernmental assurance agreement and plans to keep some of the world's most powerful AI semiconductors secure on UAE soil. Al Kaissi emphasised that security is built on both a "physical element" addressing the risk of diversion and a "logical security component" that governs access to systems and data.

Officials point to long-term UAE investments in AI research and talent as part of the rationale for trusting transfers of sensitive technology. The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, the appointment of a dedicated ministerial post for AI, and the proposed 5GW UAE‑US AI Campus are cited as evidence of the country’s commitment to domestic capability and governance frameworks.

Outlook: With A5 status in place and Nvidia hardware already delivered, attention will turn to implementation — ensuring that the regulated technology environment functions at the operational level and that joint US‑UAE oversight mechanisms prevent misuse. Industry and government observers will watch how Core42, G42, Microsoft and UAE authorities operationalise the physical and logical safeguards Al Kaissi described while scaling AI deployments domestically.