Abu Dhabi: President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s official visit to the United States marks a pivotal moment in the long-standing bilateral relations between the two countries, which have spanned over 50 years. This visit aim in UAE and the United States deepening their strategic partnership, focusing on fostering development, prosperity, and promoting global peace.
The visit highlights the strong strategic partnership between the UAE and the US, built on deep and stable ties from the beginning. The UAE remains a key regional and global partner of the United States.
It also reflects the UAE’s commitment to fostering partnerships, promoting dialogue, and establishing balanced relationships grounded in trust, credibility, and mutual respect. This approach aims to enhance global stability, peace, and promote development and prosperity for all nations.
Recent talks between UAE and US officials have emphasized the importance of bilateral cooperation in fields such as renewable energy, technology, security, and climate change. The two countries also share numerous economic and security partnerships, bolstered by the announcement of the Abraham Accords in 2019.
Bilateral diplomatic relations between the UAE and the US were established shortly after the UAE’s founding in 1971. The UAE opened its embassy in Washington in 1974, coinciding with the inauguration of the US embassy in Abu Dhabi that same year.
The strong economic ties between the two countries are evident in the significant increase in non-oil foreign trade which reached $39.5 billion in 2023 compared to $23.8 billion in 2022.
UAE’s imports from the United States increased to $25.9 billion in 2023, compared to $21.3 billion in 2022. UAE’s exports to the US increased from $3.2 billion in 2022 to $3.9 billion in 2023.
This year, UAE and the US have signed several collaborative agreements in technology and artificial intelligence. In June, World Wide Technology (WWT), a leading US tech integration firm, partnered with NXT Global to establish the UAE’s first AI Integration Centre in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, which aims to be one of the most sustainable urban expansions globally.
Additionally, in April, Microsoft announced a strategic investment of $1.5 billion in G42, further strengthening their collaboration in the fields of artificial intelligence and technology.
The launch of the UAE’s Hope Probe in 2021 significantly strengthened scientific cooperation in space exploration between the UAE and the US. This partnership is evident in the UAE’s upcoming mission to the asteroid belt with the University of Colorado Boulder.
The UAE is also contributing to NASA’s Lunar Gateway project by developing a crucial airlock module for astronauts, set to launch by 2030. Furthermore, the UAE plans to send its first astronaut to lunar orbit, as announced earlier.
Climate action is a key focus of collaboration, exemplified by the Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE), which aims to mobilize $100 billion to produce 100 gigawatts of clean energy by 2035.
Additionally, the UAE co-leads the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) with the US, involving over 50 countries and 500 partners to advance sustainable agriculture. Masdar has also invested in 11 clean energy projects in the US, including the Big Beau project near Los Angeles.
The UAE, a key player in the Middle East, and the US, a global superpower, are committed to aligning their efforts to ensure peace, security, and progress in an increasingly complex world. Their joint initiatives reflect shared goals of creating a more prosperous future for their citizens and strengthening their influence on the global stage.