(Reuters) -Two of the world’s largest chipmakers, TSMC and Samsung Electronics (KS:), have discussed building potential chip projects in the United Arab Emirates in the coming years that could be worth more than $100 billion, according to reports. the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. .
Top executives at TSMC recently visited the UAE and discussed a factory complex comparable to some of the company’s largest and most advanced facilities in Taiwan, the WSJ said, citing people familiar with the interactions.
South Korea-based Samsung Electronics, a maker of smartphones, TVs and memory chips, is also considering major new chip manufacturing operations in the country in the coming years, the newspaper said.
TSMC told Reuters it had no new investment plans to announce.
“We are always open to constructive discussions on ways to promote the development of the semiconductor industry, but we remain focused on our current global expansion projects and have no new investment plans to reveal at this time,” the report said in a statement on Monday. to work out.
Samsung declined to comment on the WSJ report.
Senior figures at Samsung Electronics recently visited the UAE and discussed the idea, WSJ reported, adding that discussions were still in the early stages and may face technical and other hurdles.
Under the initial terms being discussed, the projects would be financed by the UAE, with a central role for Abu Dhabi-based sovereign development vehicle Mubadala, according to WSJ.
The newspaper added that the broader goal would be to increase global chip production and help lower prices without hurting chipmakers’ profitability.
As technology deals accelerate in the region, Washington is increasingly concerned that the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries will become a conduit for advanced US AI technology reaching China.
