The U.S. Department of Commerce announced changes that loosened export controls on the United Arab Emirates, a move described in a Federal Register posting as making it easier to ship certain military items, commercial satellites and spacecraft, and other controlled technologies to approved UAE entities.

Under the revised rules, the UAE government and approved companies will also gain license-free access to advanced computing items, including AI-related chips and servers, according to the posting. Companies cited as among those that would no longer need licenses for AI chips and servers for qualifying transfers include UAE firms G42 and Core42 and some U.S. companies operating in the country.

The Commerce Department said the favorable treatment reflects U.S. efforts to work with the UAE over decades on countering threats from Iran and its regional proxies, and noted the UAE’s role in U.S. interests during a recent operation involving strikes on Iran that began in February. It also said the UAE is the largest U.S. trading partner in the Middle East and that UAE foreign direct investment in the United States is valued at more than $1 trillion.

The posting further said the United States moved the UAE into a country grouping that allows more license exceptions for certain military and dual-use items controlled by the Commerce Department. It also stated that the UAE would be the only country in the grouping that is not a member of multilateral export control regimes, with other countries in the group including NATO allies.