UAE, US to boost cooperation in technology and innovation

The United Arab Emirates and the United States (US) continue to explore avenues for strengthening their strategic cooperation in advanced technology and innovation.

During his participation at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, a premier global technology event held in Las Vegas, Dr. Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, met with senior US officials and business leaders.

These discussions emphasised the UAE’s dedication to strengthening technology ties with the US and solidifying its status as a global hub for innovation, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced technologies.

The UAE’s delegation includes government officials and business leaders.

During his visit, Al Zeyoudi engaged with senior US officials, including Nevada Lt. Governor Stavros Anthony, and representatives from the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the US Chamber of Commerce, and the Las Vegas Chamber.

Discussions centred on enhancing long-term UAE-US technology partnerships, exploring collaborative opportunities, and promoting the UAE’s value proposition, which includes state-of-the-art infrastructure, a skilled talent pool, and a business-friendly ecosystem that serves as a gateway to rapidly growing markets in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Al Zeyoudi said, “The UAE’s dynamic tech ecosystem, bolstered by initiatives like NextGen FDI, offers fresh opportunities for US companies looking to scale their operations and access high-growth markets.

Total UAE investment in the US already tops $35 billion, and officials from both countries are working together to create additional opportunities for businesses and investors.”

“As we expand our partnerships in advanced technology, we aim to foster innovation, create jobs, and accelerate the adoption of next-generation technologies.”

Additionally, Al Zeyoudi participated in a panel discussion on current geopolitical trends and challenges, providing a positive outlook on global trade and highlighting the UAE’s role in bridging markets and facilitating seamless trade flows.

He highlighted that, through its Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) programme, the UAE is actively expanding trade ties and fostering greater connectivity with strategic global markets.

During the three-day visit, he engaged with C-suite executives from leading tech companies specialising in AI, health, and automotive technologies, including major industry players, including Accenture, Qualcomm, the Consumer Technology Association, Skylo, and MGM Resorts International.

The US is the UAE’s fourth-largest trading partner globally, accounting for 4.8 per cent of the UAE’s total non-oil trade.

In the first nine months of 2024, bilateral non-oil trade reached $28.3 billion, marking a 46.2 per cent growth compared to the same period in 2019.

The UAE is the US’ most important trading partner in the Arab World, with bilateral trade comprising 27 per cent of the US’ trade with the region.

In terms of investments, the UAE holds FDI $35 billion in assets in the US, representing more than 50 per cent of the total FDI from Arab countries in the US at the end of 2023. US investments in the UAE exceeded $5 billion by the end of 2022.

Meanwhile in September 2024 the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America have issued the following joint statement on the occasion of the official visit of His Highness President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed to the United States:

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, and President Joseph R. Biden Jr. met today at the White House during an official visit of His Highness President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed to the United States. The visit is the first-ever by a President of the United Arab Emirates to Washington and marks the leaders’ fourth bilateral meeting in the Biden-Harris Administration.

The leaders affirmed the enduring U.S.-UAE strategic and defense partnership, bolstered areas of deepening cooperation in advanced technology and investments, and discussed global and regional matters.

The leaders pledged to pursue new opportunities to strengthen their economic and defense partnership; promote peace and stability across the Middle East and wider region; and deliver global leadership on issues of shared importance.

The five decades of US-UAE ties and friendship are rooted in a strong foundation of close collaboration that has underpinned our countries’ prosperity and security.

The leaders welcomed the significant progress between the United Arab Emirates and the United States during their tenure through cooperation in building trusted technology ecosystems, the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI), the U.S-UAE Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE) initiative, and the Economic Policy Dialogue (EPD), all of which serve to uplift economic and trade ties between the two countries.