The U.S. Department of Commerce has relaxed export controls for the United Arab Emirates, facilitating the transfer of military items, specific commercial satellites, and spacecraft. This move, detailed in a U.S. government posting in the Federal Register, also grants the UAE government and authorized companies license-free access to advanced computing items.
Key entities such as UAE companies G42 and Core42, along with U.S. firms operating within the Emirates, including Amazon, Apple, and xAI, will no longer require export licenses for AI chips and servers. The Commerce Department cited decades of cooperation with the UAE in countering Iran and its proxies, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, as a primary reason for granting this preferential treatment.
The department further highlighted the UAE's significant role in advancing U.S. interests during "Operation Epic Fury," referring to the U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran initiated in February. Additionally, the posting noted the UAE's position as the largest U.S. trading partner in the Middle East, with foreign direct investment in the United States exceeding $1 trillion.
Under the revised regulations, the UAE has been reclassified into a country group that permits broader license exceptions for military and dual-use items under the department's purview. This places the UAE in a category with NATO members and other allies, though it remains the sole nation in this group that is not a member of established multilateral export control regimes. Other regional nations, including Israel and Saudi Arabia, are not part of this specific grouping.
