Lee Eyes AI and Green Energy Boom in UAE Partnership

South Korea Eyes AI and Renewable Energy Partnership with UAE in New Era of Cooperation

Abu Dhabi – President Lee Jae Myung has articulated a vision for a deepened and expanded partnership between South Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), focusing on strategic sectors like artificial intelligence (AI), renewable energy, and cutting-edge technologies. Currently on a state visit to Abu Dhabi, President Lee expressed his aspirations in a written interview with UAE newspaper Aletihad, highlighting the potential for a "new centennial phase" in the bilateral relationship.

Lee Eyes AI and Green Energy Boom in UAE Partnersh...

While traditional areas of cooperation such as trade, defense, nuclear power, and energy remain important, President Lee emphasized the need to explore future-oriented fields. He sees South Korea poised to become a major economic partner for the UAE, leveraging its strengths in key technological domains.

A central pillar of this proposed

A central pillar of this proposed collaboration is AI. President Lee underscored the pivotal role of Korean chip manufacturers in the global supply chain and their existing partnerships with tech giants like OpenAI. He believes South Korea is uniquely positioned to support the UAE in developing its AI ecosystem, providing the advanced AI-memory chips necessary for its growth. "As a leading global producer of memory chips, Korea is a strategic partner capable of providing the advanced AI-memory chips the UAE needs," he stated.

Beyond established industry leaders, President Lee also championed the potential of innovative Korean startups to diversify the UAE's supply base. He specifically mentioned companies like Rebellions and FuriosaAI, highlighting their capacity to serve as alternative suppliers in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. "We look forward to creating synergies as these capabilities align with the UAE's future strategy," he added.

The partnership extends beyond technology to encompass energy cooperation. President Lee pointed to the success of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, a project undertaken by the Korea Electric Power Corp, as a foundation for future collaboration. Now fully operational and supplying a quarter of the UAE's electricity, the Barakah plant serves as a testament to the potential of Korean expertise in the energy sector.

Building on this success, President Lee proposed expanding energy collaboration into renewable energy sources and the development of small modular reactors (SMRs). He even suggested joint ventures in third countries, aiming to meet the increasing global power demand driven by industrial growth and technological advancements. This ambitious vision signals a strong commitment from South Korea to play a significant role in the UAE's future economic development and its transition towards a more sustainable energy future.