UAE, US: Partnership for innovation, opportunity

May 16, 2025 / 10:13 AM

Sharjah24 - WAM: Omran Sharaf, Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Technology at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spoke with CNN’s Becky Anderson on Thursday about the evolving focus of the US–UAE partnership on emerging technologies.

Importance of the historical trip

Sharaf emphasised the significance of President Trump's visit to the UAE, noting that cooperation on science and technology has become a vital pillar of the US–UAE relationship.

Collaboration on the Mars Mission

“Even with the Emirates mission to Mars, our main partner and knowledge transfer partner was the United States,” he stated. “We couldn’t have done it if we didn’t work together hand in hand.”

Expanding across emerging technologies

He highlighted that the UAE–US relationship has broadened to include critical emerging technologies such as AI, quantum computing, and energy. “The US$1.4 trillion investment is a reflection of how strong the relationship has become. It is the result of decades of partnership between both nations,” Sharaf added.

Shared benefits and trust

The cooperation is grounded in shared benefits and mutual trust. “We always look at these opportunities as a win-win situation. Such investments will not just create opportunities for the UAE—whether economic, social, or regional impact—but also for the US economy, creating jobs and attracting talent in both countries.”

Governing emerging technologies responsibly

Sharaf stressed the necessity of collaboration in responsibly governing emerging technologies. “It is crucial that we have relationships where countries work closely, investments happen both ways, and we come up with governance systems for new technologies that, if misused, could have serious consequences.”