Abu dhabi: The Ministry of Investment has led a high-level delegation to the Republic of Korea to advance bilateral cooperation and unlock new partnership opportunities across the artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor value chain, reinforcing the UAE's economic diversification agenda and its strategic focus on future-defining industries.
According to Emirates News Agency, the delegation was headed by Mohammad Abdulrahman Alhawi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Investment. Abdulla Saif Al Nuaimi, UAE Ambassador to Korea, also took part in the visit, which brought together a cross-section of the UAE's technology and investment ecosystem, including AI national champions, Core42 and MGX; government-backed research and innovation institutions, such as the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) and the Technology Innovation Institute (TII); and investment institutions like Mubadala and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA).
The delegation participated in the "Korea-UAE AI Infrastructure and Semiconductor Investment Cooperation Forum," co-organised by Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, and the Presidential Council on National AI Strategy. The forum was convened under a joint working group established during the UAE state visit in November 2025, aimed at promoting AI ecosystem cooperation across infrastructure, models, and services.
During the high-level bilateral meeting, both sides recognised the strength of each other's national AI strategies and agreed on the necessity of establishing a structured cooperative framework to accelerate AI ecosystem development amidst growing global competition. Alhawi participated in a panel discussion focused on practical cooperation models leveraging the strengths of both economies, while Korean companies presented investment pitches in AI semiconductors, infrastructure, and technology.
The visit also included tours of Korea's advanced technology and semiconductor facilities, part of a broader effort to deepen cooperation across the AI supply chain. This aligns with the UAE's goal to become a leading global AI hub and advance large-scale AI infrastructure domestically.
Alhawi emphasized the UAE and Korea's shared ambition to lead in future industries, highlighting the UAE's $30 billion investment commitment announced in 2023. He pointed to transformative collaborations, such as Korea's role in the Barakah nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi and the UAE's Stargate AI data centre campus, as evidence of meaningful cooperation.
Ryu Je Myung, Second Vice Minister, Ministry of Science and ICT, noted that AI competitiveness stems from a robust ecosystem comprising semiconductors, data centres, models, and services. By combining Korea's AI strengths with the UAE's investment capabilities, both nations aim to develop cooperation models for tangible outcomes, including efficient AI data centres and participation in the Stargate AI campus.
The visit aligns with the UAE's broader strategy to enhance international cooperation in priority sectors, supporting its goal to solidify its status as a global AI hub and highlighting the Ministry of Investment's role in fostering long-term international investment partnerships.