The U.S. Department of Commerce announced a change in export policy that loosens controls on certain shipments to the United Arab Emirates, making it easier to move military items, specified commercial satellites and spacecraft, and advanced computing equipment to the country.
Under the revised regulation, the Commerce Department has placed the UAE into a country grouping that permits more license exceptions for military and dual-use items overseen by the department. The change means that the UAE government and approved Emirati companies will be eligible to access advanced computing items license-free.
Named Emirati companies G42 and Core42 are listed among entities that will benefit from the new treatment. The policy also covers U.S. companies operating in the UAE, with companies including Amazon, Apple and xAI specifically noted as now able to receive AI chips and servers without needing individual export licenses.
In explaining the decision, the Commerce Department said the United States has a decades-long security relationship with the UAE, working together to counter Iran and affiliated groups identified in the posting as Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. The department also cited the UAE’s recent role supporting U.S. objectives during Operation Epic Fury, described in the posting as the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that began in February.
The posting highlights the economic ties between the two countries, describing the UAE as the largest U.S. trading partner in the Middle East and noting that UAE foreign direct investment in the United States is valued at more than $1 trillion.
Officials emphasized that the UAE will be unique among the countries in the new grouping because it is not a member of multilateral export control regimes. Other members of the grouping include NATO nations and close U.S. allies. The posting also noted that regional peers such as Israel and Saudi Arabia are not members of this particular group.
Summary
The Commerce Department’s rule change shifts the UAE to a more permissive export category, easing licensing requirements for military and dual-use items, certain commercial satellites and spacecraft, and advanced computing technology for approved Emirati entities and select U.S. firms operating there.