The Shenzhen-based humanoid robot manufacturer UBTech Robotics has announced a collaboration with the Hong Kong investment firm Infini Capital, aimed at expanding UBTech’s presence in Middle East markets.
In exchange for a credit line of up to US$1 billion, Infini will raise its holding in UBTech to a 5% equity stake. The two firms also plan to establish a research center and a “super factory” in the region focused on robotics manufacturing. UBTech’s shares closed up 4.8% following the announcement.
Infini now operates dual headquarters in Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi, making it the first Asian hedge fund to establish a base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Since opening its Gulf headquarters last year, the company has diversified its portfolio to include strategic emerging technologies, with a particular focus on robotics in the Middle East.
The announcement follows US President Donald Trump’s high-profile May visit to the Gulf, during which several business deals were signed between American firms and both private and public entities in the region, including in the UAE. Abu Dhabi, for instance, secured the right to import 500,000 of NVIDIA’s most advanced AI chips annually starting in 2025.
The UAE has also demonstrated strong interest in expanding its data infrastructure. The proposed UBTech–Infini research center and manufacturing facility are expected to align closely with the Gulf state’s ambitions.
However, the move may draw criticism in Washington, where defense analysts have warned of China’s growing technological footprint in the Middle East. In May, the US and the UAE announced plans to build a data center in Abu Dhabi — set to be the largest complex outside the US — though the project has faced setbacks amid concerns in Washington over security risks of exporting advanced AI chips abroad.
Chinese policymakers, by contrast, have shown little hesitation in pursuing deals with Gulf partners. UBTech’s expansion into the Middle East is therefore unlikely to be the last such move by Chinese tech firms, despite mounting opposition from the White House and Congress.