From Oil to AI - How the GCC-US Power Moves Started

What G42, Diriyah, and AI Deals Reveal About Gulf Strategy

G42 and Diriyah were named among TIME’s 100 most influential companies. Sam Altman and Brad Smith attended an AI summit in Abu Dhabi. Alef Education is working with Microsoft and Core42 to bring AI-powered learning to more countries. In this episode, I walk through what these three recent stories tell us about how the UAE and Saudi Arabia are driving global influence, through infrastructure, tech, and education. Covered in this episode: – G42 and Diriyah Company featured in TIME’s 2025 list – Highlights from G42’s AI Summit in Abu Dhabi – Alef Education’s partnership with Microsoft and Core42 for regional AI rollout – What these stories reveal about long-term Gulf positioning Visit the podcast webpage [https://gcc-us-power-moves.simplecast.com] Episode produced by Miret Padovani. Music licensed via Artlist: “Mau Mau – instrumental version,” La Nata. Connect on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/miretpadovani/]

Boots on Sand - The US Military Bases in the Gulf

Why does the US have a military presence in every Gulf country? In this episode, we break down the strategic logic behind the American military footprint in the GCC, what’s really being traded behind the scenes, and how the Gulf states are using these bases for leverage beyond defense. Visit the podcast webpage [https://gcc-us-power-moves.simplecast.com] Episode produced by Miret Padovani. Music licensed via Artlist: “Mau Mau – instrumental version,” La Nata. Connect on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/miretpadovani/]

From Oil to AI - How the GCC-US Power Moves Started

Once a transactional alliance, the GCC-US relationship has turned into one of the most powerful partnerships shaping the modern world. In this episode, we trace the history of this relationship, from early oil deals and wartime diplomacy to military bases and global investments. Covered in this episode: – 1933: Saudi Arabia signs oil concession with Standard Oil – 1945: FDR & King Abdulaziz meet aboard USS Quincy – 1973: Arab oil embargo shifts global power – 1990s-2000s: US military bases expand in the Gulf – 2010s-2020s: PIF, Mubadala, QIA go global – Now: GCC shapes AI, data, and tech markets Key takeaway: The GCC–US relationship has evolved from oil-for-security to co-authorship of global economic power. Visit the podcast webpage [https://gcc-us-power-moves.simplecast.com] Episode produced by Miret Padovani. Music licensed via Artlist: “Mau Mau – instrumental version,” La Nata. Connect on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/miretpadovani/]

Saudi Capital and US Tech Shaping AI

Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a global powerhouse in artificial intelligence. In this episode, we break down six major deals between the Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund-backed startup Humain and US tech giants Nvidia, AMD, Qualcomm, Cisco, AWS, and Luma. Covered in this episode: 1. Nvidia – 18,000+ Blackwell GPUs for Humain’s AI “factories” – Part of a multi-year rollout backed by Saudi’s Crown Prince – Supports a 500 MW hyperscale data center in the Kingdom Source: Reuters [https://www.reuters.com/technology/nvidia-sell-ai-chips-saudi-backed-startup-humane-2025-06-03] 2. AMD – $10B partnership to build sovereign-scale AI infrastructure – Full-stack build: CPUs, GPUs, software, data centers – Reinforces Saudi’s multi-vendor AI strategy Source: Bloomberg [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-03/saudi-backed-humain-inks-10-billion-ai-infrastructure-deal-with-amd] 3. Qualcomm – Co-developing a new CPU for AI infrastructure – Launching a Saudi-based semiconductor design center – Builds on Qualcomm’s acquisition of Nuvia Source: Reuters [https://www.reuters.com/technology/qualcomm-saudi-ai-design-center-2025-06-04] 4. Cisco – Supporting Humain’s “AI-ready” infrastructure rollout – Focusing on networking, scalability, and resilience – Committing to train 500,000 people across Saudi Arabia Source: ArabNews [https://www.arabnews.com/node/2513321/technology] 5. AWS – Investing over $5.3B to create an “AI Zone” in Saudi Arabia – Launching a Generative AI Innovation Center – Training 10,000 Saudi women in AI and cloud Source: Reuters [https://www.reuters.com/technology/aws-invest-53-billion-new-saudi-ai-zone-2025-06-06] 6. Luma – Teaming with Humain to develop hyperreal generative video platforms – Focus on cinematic AI, 3D rendering, and real-time content creation – Supports Saudi ambitions in gaming, media, and culture Source: TechCrunch [https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/05/luma-saudi-arabia-ai-partnership] Key takeaway: Saudi funding is actively shaping the future of artificial intelligence. Through Humain, the Kingdom is embedding itself into the core of US-led AI development, from chip design and cloud infrastructure to generative media. Visit the podcast webpage [https://gcc-us-power-moves.simplecast.com] Episode produced by Miret Padovani. Music licensed via Artlist: “Mau Mau – instrumental version,” La Nata. Connect on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/miretpadovani/]

$2 Trillion in Deals: Where GCC-US Business Relations Stand in Mid-2025

In this launch episode, I highlight three major business deals announced during Donald Trump’s May 2025 visit to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. They all show the growing scale of GCC-US economic partnerships. Covered in this episode: 1. Saudi Arabia’s $600 billion commitment – $20B from DataVolt into US AI infrastructure – PIF-backed Humain partners with AWS, Nvidia, Cisco – AWS to invest $5B+ in Saudi Arabia and train 100,000 locals in AI Source: Reuters [https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/deals-take-centre-stage-trumps-gulf-visit-2025-05-13] 2. Qatar Airways orders 160 Boeing jets – $96B deal, including 130 Dreamliners – Largest 787 order in Boeing history Source: Reuters [https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/qatar-signs-200-bln-deal-buy-jets-boeing-during-trump-visit-2025-05-14] 3. UAE’s Stargate project – New AI campus in Abu Dhabi in partnership with OpenAI, Nvidia, Oracle, Cisco – First international deployment of OpenAI’s “Stargate” platform and “OpenAI for Countries” program Source: Reuters [https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/us-uae-multi-billion-dollar-ai-data-campus-deal-far-finalised-sources-say-2025-06-06] Key takeaway: GCC capital is accelerating its bets on US partnerships. The sectors topping the agenda are AI, aviation, and infrastructure. Visit the podcast webpage [https://gcc-us-power-moves.simplecast.com] Episode produced by Miret Padovani. Music licensed via Artlist: “Mau Mau – instrumental version,” La Nata. Connect on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/miretpadovani/]