UAE delegation meets US officials in Washington to advance technology partnership
In short
A UAE delegation led by Omran Sharaf, Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Science and Technology, held meetings in Washington, DC, with senior US officials, research institutions, think tanks and technology companies. The talks covered advanced artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, space, quantum computing and trusted digital infrastructure, and included US Department of Commerce discussions on export administration and the UAE's elevation to Country Group A:5 under the Export Administration Regulations. Arabian Business reported the two countries are advancing a $1.4tn technology investment framework; the other documents do not mention that figure.
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A UAE delegation led by Omran Sharaf, Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Science and Technology, travelled to Washington, DC, for a series of meetings with senior US government officials, research institution and think tank leaders and technology companies, according to WAM and Economy Middle East. The two outlets said the aim was to advance the UAE-US partnership across advanced science and technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, space and quantum computing. [ 2 , 3 ]
The delegation included Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Government Cybersecurity Council, and Dr. Mohamed Alkhemairi, Executive Director of the Research and Development Ecosystem at the Advanced Technology Research Council, alongside representatives from the UAE Space Agency and Space42, the two outlets reported. [ 2 , 3 ]
Sharaf met Michael Kratsios, Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, to discuss advancing the technological partnership and to exchange views on rapid developments in science and technology, according to WAM. He separately met Jacob Helberg, Undersecretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, and Adam Cassady, Ambassador-at-Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy at the US Department of State. Those meetings addressed opportunities to expand cooperation in advanced artificial intelligence, quantum and secure technologies, cybersecurity and trusted digital infrastructure, and to enhance information sharing and preparedness for future technologies, including post-quantum cryptography. [ 2 , 3 ]
Meetings with the US Department of Commerce focused on strengthening trade and technology cooperation, trade facilitation and export administration, and the recent US decision to elevate the UAE to Country Group A:5 status under the Export Administration Regulations, the two outlets reported. [ 2 , 3 ]
Arabian Business reported that the two countries are advancing a $1.4tn technology investment framework, with senior officials holding talks on AI, cybersecurity, space, quantum computing and export policy. WAM and Economy Middle East do not mention the figure in the text available. No document states what agreements, if any, resulted from the visit. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The agenda covers the areas where US export rules shape what technology the UAE can obtain, and the documents state that the talks addressed the UAE's recent elevation to Country Group A:5 under the Export Administration Regulations. The visit was reported by the state news agency as well as business outlets, indicating that the UAE treats the technology relationship with Washington as a priority. The documents describe discussions rather than outcomes, so the practical effect is not yet stated.
Key facts
- Omran Sharaf, Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Science and Technology, led a UAE delegation to Washington, DC, for meetings with senior US government officials, research institution and think tank leaders and technology companies. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The delegation included Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Government Cybersecurity Council, and Dr. Mohamed Alkhemairi, Executive Director of the Research and Development Ecosystem at the Advanced Technology Research Council, alongside representatives from the UAE Space Agency and Space42. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Sharaf met Michael Kratsios, Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Sharaf also met Jacob Helberg, Undersecretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, and Adam Cassady, Ambassador-at-Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy at the US Department of State. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The meetings addressed advanced artificial intelligence, quantum and secure technologies, cybersecurity, trusted digital infrastructure, information sharing and preparedness for future technologies including post-quantum cryptography. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Meetings with the US Department of Commerce focused on trade and technology cooperation, trade facilitation and export administration, and the recent US decision to elevate the UAE to Country Group A:5 status under the Export Administration Regulations. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Arabian Business reported that the UAE and the US are advancing a $1.4tn technology investment framework, with senior officials holding talks on AI, cybersecurity, space, quantum computing and export policy. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A UAE delegation led by Omran Sharaf held meetings in Washington, DC, with senior US officials to advance technology cooperation. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The cooperation agenda covered artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, space and quantum computing. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Sharaf met Michael Kratsios of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Jacob Helberg and Adam Cassady of the US Department of State. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Talks with the US Department of Commerce covered trade facilitation and export administration, including the US decision to elevate the UAE to Country Group A:5 under the Export Administration Regulations. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- What the $1.4tn technology investment framework covers and whether the figure is confirmed by the two governments. The figure appears only in Arabian Business's feed summary; WAM and Economy Middle East do not mention it in the text available.
- Whether any agreements, memoranda or commitments were signed during the visit. The documents describe meetings and topics discussed, and state no outcome.
- Further meetings listed after the point where the WAM and Economy Middle East texts are truncated. Both articles end mid-sentence, so additional counterparts named there cannot be verified from the available text.