UAE Promoted to Group B from D:5 Favourable Export Licence

[ABS News Service/13.07.2026]

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule granting the United Arab Emirates enhanced favorable treatment under the Export Administration Regulations, a move that substantially expands the country’s access to sensitive US technologies, including advanced semiconductors used for artificial intelligence.

The rule is scheduled for publication in the July 14 Federal Register and takes effect immediately upon publication. The rule transfers the UAE from Country Group D:5 to Country Group B and adds the country to the list of destinations eligible for additional license exceptions. BIS said the change reflects the UAE’s strengthened export control system, its commitment to protecting sensitive US technology, expanding bilateral economic ties and its support for the United States during the recent conflict with Iran.

The reclassification significantly reduces export licensing requirements for many controlled items. It also authorizes the UAE government and approved commercial entities to obtain certain advanced computing items without individual BIS licenses under specified license exceptions, paving the way for expanded exports of AI accelerators and other high-performance computing hardware.

The action is expected to facilitate shipments of advanced AI processors from US companies including Nvidia, AMD and Cerebras Systems to Emirati AI projects. It also supports implementation of the US-UAE AI cooperation framework announced in 2025, under which Emirati technology company G42 and its US partners plan to deploy large-scale AI computing infrastructure in the Gulf.

Beyond semiconductors, the rule eases export restrictions on a broad range of controlled US technologies, including commercial satellites, aerospace equipment, electronics, telecommunications products and other dual-use items that previously required more restrictive licensing treatment.