Chipmaker Nvidia struck a deal with Qatari telecommunications giant Ooredoo to equip its data centers across five Middle Eastern countries with artificial intelligence (AI) hardware.1
The agreement, announced on June 19, positions Ooredoo as the first company in the region to offer its data center clients direct access to Nvidia’s AI and graphics processing technology. This technology is expected to empower businesses and organizations in Qatar, Algeria, Tunisia, Oman, and Kuwait to leverage advancements in generative AI applications.
Financial details of the deal and the specific Nvidia hardware to be deployed were not disclosed. However, Ooredoo stated that the technology selection would depend on client demand and market availability.
Nvidia’s partnership Ooredoo will see implementation of AI technologies in data centers across Qatar, Algeria, Tunisia, Oman, Kuwait, and the Maldives.
This move, however, defies US restrictions on exporting AI technology to the Middle East, aimed at limiting China’s influence.
The partnership allows Ooredoo exclusive access to Nvidia’s AI and graphics processing capabilities, marking Nvidia’s entry into the Middle Eastern market.
Ooredoo plans substantial investments to expand data center capacity, starting with a 20–25 megawatt increase and aiming to triple it by the decade’s end.
- CNBC.com: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/26/nvidia-deal-us-chip-curbs-just-business-as-usual-ooredoo-ceo.html[↩]
