Samsung's Lee Jae-yong inspects UAE gas power plant site, meets Middle East staff
In short
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong visited the Al Dhafra gas-fired power plant construction site in Abu Dhabi on Oct 21 local time, Samsung said on Oct 22. He checked the construction schedule and safety management, discussed Middle East business with Samsung C&T and Samsung E&A executives, and had lunch with site staff.
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Lee Jae-yong, chairman of Samsung Electronics, visited the Al Dhafra gas-fired power plant construction site in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Oct 21 local time, according to Samsung, which announced the trip on Oct 22. He toured the main facilities and checked the construction schedule and safety management, outlets reported. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
The Al Dhafra plant is being built by Samsung C&T in a consortium with the local construction company Trojan General Contracting. The outlets say the project responds to rising power demand from the UAE's industrial development and is expected to supply power for advanced industries such as AI data centres. Newsis described the facility as having a capacity of 1 gigawatt; no other outlet gave a figure. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
Lee also met executives of Samsung C&T and Samsung E&A and discussed changes in the Middle East market and future business direction. Outlets said Samsung is looking for opportunities in new fields such as AI data centres and energy infrastructure, while expanding cooperation in existing nuclear and gas combined-cycle businesses. They noted that Samsung C&T took part in building the Barakah nuclear plant and that Samsung E&A treats the UAE as a hub for its Middle East and Africa business, running refining, gas and petrochemical plant projects. Several also said the UAE has a special strategic partnership with South Korea. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
After the inspection, Lee had lunch at the canteen that staff normally use and talked with them about local life and working conditions. Yonhap and others said he praised the employees working in the heat and listened to their difficulties and suggestions. He then held a meeting with Samsung C&T and Samsung E&A employees to hear the problems they face in overseas projects and discuss local business matters. Asia Economy said he repeatedly asked staff to take care of their safety. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
Several outlets framed the visit against the war and geopolitical conflict in the Middle East. Yonhap, Newsis and Kyunghyang Shinmun said Lee is paying particular attention to staff at sites in the region. On Oct 16, they reported, he sent gifts and thank-you letters to 730 employees at affiliates dispatched to nine Middle East countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Iran, and to their families. Employees abroad received vouchers worth 3 million to 5 million won, and families in South Korea received Onnuri vouchers worth 2 million to 3 million won. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 , 8 , 9 ]
In the letter, Lee wrote that the company always puts employees' safety and health first, according to the reports. Yonhap, Newsis and Maeil Business added that in March he had sent similar gifts and letters to more than 500 employees in the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Seoul Economic Daily also said that if the Middle East war ends, reconstruction demand could become a new business opportunity, an observation not attributed to Samsung. [ 1 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Why it matters
Outlets describe the visit as part of Samsung's effort to look for new business in AI data centres and energy infrastructure in the UAE while staff work in a region unsettled by war and geopolitical conflict. The documents report plans and discussions, not any new contract or deal.
Key facts
- Lee Jae-yong, chairman of Samsung Electronics, visited the Al Dhafra gas-fired power plant construction site in Abu Dhabi on Oct 21 local time. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- He checked the construction schedule and safety management at the site. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- Samsung C&T is building the plant in a consortium with the local builder Trojan General Contracting. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- Lee met Samsung C&T and Samsung E&A executives to discuss changes in the Middle East market and future business direction. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- He had lunch at the canteen staff normally use and held a meeting with Samsung C&T and Samsung E&A employees to hear their difficulties. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- On Oct 16 Lee sent gifts and thank-you letters to 730 employees dispatched to nine Middle East countries and to their families. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 , 8 , 9 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Lee Jae-yong visited the Al Dhafra gas-fired power plant construction site in Abu Dhabi on Oct 21 local time and inspected the construction schedule and safety management. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- The plant is being built by Samsung C&T in a consortium with the local builder Trojan General Contracting, and is expected to help supply power to advanced industries such as AI data centres. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- Lee met Samsung C&T and Samsung E&A executives and discussed Middle East market changes and future business direction. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- On Oct 16 Lee sent gifts and letters to 730 employees at affiliates dispatched to nine Middle East countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Iran, and to their families; employees received vouchers worth 3 million to 5 million won. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 , 8 , 9 ]
- In March Lee sent gifts and letters to more than 500 employees staying in the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and to their families. [ 4 , 6 , 8 ]
Still unclear
- The plant is of 1 gigawatt scale. Only Newsis (doc 3) gives the capacity; other outlets call it a large power infrastructure facility.
- Whether the war's end could bring reconstruction demand as a new business opportunity for Samsung. Only Seoul Economic Daily presents this as an observation; it is not attributed to Samsung.
- Whether Lee urged site staff repeatedly to put safety first. Only Asia Economy (doc 2) says he repeatedly urged staff to take care of their safety.