Today's Edition
HAMAD AL KAABI (ABU DHABI)
Lee Jae Myung, President of the Republic of Korea, affirmed that his country’s relations with the United Arab Emirates have surpassed traditional economic cooperation and evolved into a “comprehensive and special partnership” defined by trust and shared determination.
He stated that this partnership is not only a turning point for expanding trade and investment, but also a launchpad towards becoming the UAE’s closest economic partner.
He added that choosing the UAE as the first destination of his Middle East tour since taking office in June reflects a strong will to solidify and advance bilateral relations. He emphasised Korea’s deep and profound trust in the UAE as its only special strategic partner in the region, noting that both countries work together as true partners, shaping a shared future.
President Lee Jae Myung said that his meeting with President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has laid the foundation for “a new centennial phase” in relations between the two nations.
He expressed satisfaction with the progress of UAE investments in Korea, especially following the UAE’s decision to invest in strategic sectors, describing it as a strategic decision. He noted that the intertwined investment environments and natural growth in corporate cooperation go far beyond what economic figures alone show.
In an interview with Aletihad, President Lee Jae Myung said he expects Korean companies to play an important role in building the UAE’s AI semiconductor ecosystem, particularly as the UAE moves to enhance its competitiveness and solidify its position as a global hub for artificial intelligence across all sectors, in line with the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031.
He highlighted that the success of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, now fully operational after 12 years of construction, opens a new chapter in energy cooperation. He revealed that Korea plans to work with the UAE on next-generation nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors, as well as pursuing joint entry into global nuclear markets.
In this context, he pointed to the Al Ajban solar power project, in which Korea Western Power participated, as well as joint renewable energy projects in third-party countries between Korea South-East Power and Masdar, describing both as important and exemplary models of bilateral cooperation in renewable energy.
He expected cooperation between the two countries in space exploration to enter a more advanced stage – one that includes the joint development and utilisation of satellites, building ground infrastructure such as launch platforms and satellite-navigation ground stations, in addition to deep-space exploration extending from the Moon to Mars.
In this context, he cited the “DubaiSat” satellite, which was developed in cooperation with Korea, and highlighted that Emirati specialists are receiving training in space-development fields at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).
Remarking on international travel, President Lee Jae Myung noted that the UAE is the most important destination in the Middle East for Korean visitors.
He revealed that his government intends to review ways to facilitate easier entry for UAE citizens, as well as expand cultural exchanges to include related creative industries.
He also noted Korea’s plan to establish a new Korean centre in the UAE by 2030, and develop it into a central hub for cultural exchange and trade between the two countries. He expressed his belief that the UAE and Korea are fully qualified to be cultural partners, especially as the UAE is recognised as a cultural and tourism hub in the Middle East.
He highlighted that both countries have already tested the strength of their cooperation during times of crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Korea provided the UAE with medical protection supplies, while the UAE supported Korea when it faced a shortage of liquid urea by providing alternative supplies. He pointed out that combining Korea’s technological capabilities and manufacturing base with the UAE’s strengths in energy and logistics can create stable and resilient supply chains.
The following is the full interview:
With the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries, how do you assess the level of cooperation between the UAE and Korea? What are its most notable milestones?
I believe the decision made in 2023 under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the UAE to invest $30 billion in the Republic of Korea over the coming years was a highly strategic and significant step. It went far beyond traditional economic cooperation and demonstrated the deep mutual trust and shared determination for growth between the Republic of Korea and the United Arab Emirates.
Since this decision, both countries have established close cooperation channels, and many Emirati investment institutions, including Mubadala, have begun actively investing in Korean companies. I am aware that a substantial portion of these investments has already been executed.
In particular, many Emirati investment entities have expressed strong interest in Korea’s leading global technologies. Close cooperation is now underway in advanced industries such as artificial intelligence, industries that both countries consider to be key strategic sectors.
We see that the interconnected investment environments of both nations, along with the natural increase in corporate exchange and cooperation, have an impact far beyond the economic figures alone.
We hope this process will reinforce the “special strategic partnership” between Korea and the UAE, aimed at long-term, sustainable growth.
Under the Korea-UAE CEPA agreement, customs tariffs will be eliminated on more than 90% of goods exchanged between the two countries, including Korean-made electric and hybrid vehicles, and UAE petrochemical products. This will help expand bilateral trade, enhance industrial competitiveness, and generate benefits for consumers in both nations.
Furthermore, economic cooperation is expected to materialise across diverse fields such as energy and resources, supply chains, digitalisation, and the bio-economy. New investments will also be stimulated by improving the business environment and investment framework.
The CEPA between Korea and the UAE will not only mark a turning point for expanding trade and investment, but will also serve as a launchpad for elevating the relationship to that of the UAE’s closest economic partner.
Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is one of the central pillars of nuclear-energy cooperation between the two countries. What does the future hold for collaboration in this sector?
The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is the first commercial nuclear power plant in the Middle East. With the commercial operation of the fourth unit in September last year, the 12-year construction process has been successfully completed and the plant has officially entered full commercial operation.
We believe that Barakah – providing 25% of the UAE’s electricity needs – will serve as an important foundation for driving new engines of growth in the UAE, such as artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.
Building on the success of Barakah’s construction and operation, our two countries will open a new chapter in energy cooperation.
Global investment in small modular reactors (SMRs) is expected to exceed $670 billion by 2050. Korea is now working to lay the groundwork for cooperation with the UAE on next-generation nuclear technologies, including SMRs, and for jointly entering nuclear-energy markets in third countries. These efforts are supported by Korea’s progress in SMR technology and its move to build a domestic demonstration reactor.
Additionally, cooperation in renewable energy-driven energy transition and energy-storage systems – combining the UAE’s abundant solar energy potential with Korea’s world-class battery technologies – will significantly enhance the two countries’ leadership in new, eco-friendly industries.
The 1.5-GW Al Ajban Solar Park, with the participation of Korea Western Power, and joint renewable-energy projects in third-party countries involving Korea South-East Power and Masdar, are key examples of the strong bilateral cooperation in renewable energy.
As the UAE advances its Energy Strategy 2050 and leads renewable energy adoption in the region, and as Korea prioritises its national “Great Energy Transition” towards renewables – aiming for carbon neutrality and the expansion of green industries – we expect cooperation in renewables to expand further, guided by the strong visions and policies of both governments.
By deepening government-to-government and corporate-level cooperation, we anticipate mutually beneficial results, including second and third collaborative models similar to those of Korea Western Power and Korea South-East Power with Masdar.
What about artificial intelligence and advanced technology?
The world has already entered the era of artificial intelligence, and AI technologies are expected to drive revolutionary developments across advanced industries. It is no exaggeration to say that the entire world is engaged in a boundless AI race.
The UAE has set a strategic goal to enhance its national competitiveness and become a global hub for AI by integrating AI across all industrial sectors, as outlined in the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031.
To achieve this vision, a stable supply of AI infrastructure, particularly massive computational capacity, is essential.
As a leading global producer of memory chips in the semiconductor supply chain, Korea is a strategic partner capable of providing the advanced AI-memory chips the UAE needs.
Recent collaborations between global companies like OpenAI and Korean semiconductor firms illustrate that Korea is an indispensable technological partner in building AI infrastructure.
Accordingly, Korean companies are expected to play a significant role in developing the UAE’s AI semiconductor ecosystem.
Furthermore, the global AI semiconductor market is currently dominated by a small number of firms. Innovative Korean startups, such as Rebellions and FuriosaAI, have strong potential to serve as alternative suppliers, and we look forward to creating synergies as these capabilities align with the UAE’s future strategy.
Finally, Korea’s strengths span the entire semiconductor value chain – from materials and components to equipment and R&D. Korea therefore has the capacity to meet the UAE’s requirements for developing its semiconductor ecosystem and strengthening its competitiveness in advanced industries.
The UAE is an emerging space-exploration nation, and our countries share a growing partnership in this field. Could you highlight the cooperation and its future prospects?
The UAE combines capital with technological capability and is an emerging space power in the Middle East. It has already developed the “Hope Probe” to Mars, which is currently performing its mission successfully.
The UAE maintains close cooperation with Korea. The UAE’s first satellite, “DubaiSat”, was developed in partnership with Korea, and Emirati specialists continue to receive training in space-technology development at KAIST in Korea.
We expect cooperation to evolve into more advanced joint participation in several areas, including joint development and utilisation of satellites; establishment of ground infrastructure such as launch platforms and satellite navigation ground stations; and deep-space exploration, extending from the Moon all the way to Mars.
What about tourism and other important sectors such as climate, cultural exchange, and trade?
The UAE is the most important travel destination in the Middle East for Koreans, attracting around 200,000 Korean visitors annually.
In 2016, Korea and the UAE signed a visa waiver agreement, allowing citizens of both countries to visit each other visa-free for up to 90 days. This has laid an important foundation for expanding people-to-people exchange, including tourism, cultural interaction, and business visits. Strengthening this flow will remain important.
The Korean government will continue reviewing ways to make entry easier for UAE citizens wishing to visit Korea. Korea will also establish a new Korean Cultural Centre in the UAE by 2030 and develop it into a central hub for cultural exchange and trade between the two countries.
Additionally, we plan to expand cultural exchange into related creative industries – such as beauty and cuisine – through “Korea 360”, which currently operates in Dubai as a platform for showcasing, experiencing and selling Korean Wave (Hallyu) products.
Student exchange also plays an important role in enhancing people-to-people ties. Korea offers an excellent academic environment with strong research capabilities and globally competitive universities. We therefore look forward to expanding bilateral exchange through talent development and academic cooperation.
We hope these efforts will significantly expand human-exchange programmes and strengthen mutual cooperation between the UAE and Korea.
In trade management, as the world stands at a turning point in the global trade system, it is crucial to promote sustainable growth and establish a predictable trading environment.
Despite current challenges, we firmly believe that the multilateral trading system centred on the WTO must remain the foundation of global trade.
The UAE demonstrated remarkable leadership as the host and chair of the WTO’s 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi in February 2024. The extension of the e-commerce moratorium clearly reflected the UAE’s expertise and ability to build consensus among member states.
With MC14 approaching in March 2026, Korea looks forward to close cooperation with the UAE to deliver meaningful and tangible outcomes.
The two countries aim to integrate the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) and e-commerce agreements into the WTO framework. Successfully modernising trade rules at MC14 would enhance the credibility and relevance of the multilateral trading system.
Supply-chain resilience is also a major challenge. Supply-chain disruptions are no longer a domestic issue but directly threaten the economic security of open economies heavily dependent on trade, such as Korea and the UAE.
Korea relies on exports of advanced manufactured goods, while the UAE serves as a global hub for energy and logistics. In this structure, supply chains are not merely about efficiency – they are strategic assets tied directly to national survival.
Our two countries have already demonstrated strong cooperation in times of crisis: during COVID-19, Korea supplied the UAE with medical protective equipment, and when Korea faced a shortage of liquid urea, the UAE provided alternative supplies.
This shared experience of supply-chain resilience – rooted in mutual trust – should not be seen as a one-off event but as a model for crisis response.
Going forward, we must build a permanent and structural cooperation system. By combining Korea’s technological and manufacturing capabilities with the UAE’s strengths in energy and logistics, it will be possible to establish stable supply chains.
Why did you choose the UAE as the first stop of your official Middle East tour after taking office?
Yes. This visit to the UAE is my first official visit, and my first trip to the Middle East, since assuming office last June. It is clear evidence of the Korean government’s strong determination to deepen and advance relations between Korea and the UAE.
During this visit, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and I agreed to expand cooperation to include future-oriented sectors such as advanced technologies including AI, health, and culture, in addition to the four existing main pillars: investment, defence and defence industry, nuclear energy, and energy. This will lay the foundation for a “new centennial phase” between our two countries.
We also plan to strengthen practical cooperation, including expanding collaboration in areas such as nuclear fuel and maintenance to ensure the stable operation of the Barakah plant, as well as identifying concrete cooperation opportunities in AI and advanced technologies, such as building AI data centres and establishing service hubs in the UAE, which sends the largest number of government-sponsored patients to Korea in the Middle East.
Furthermore, Korea, recognised globally as a cultural powerhouse, and the UAE, an emerging cultural and tourism hub in the Middle East, are fully capable of becoming cultural partners who create synergy and achieve shared growth in the cultural sector as well.
Finally, could you elaborate on climate finance?
As a globally responsible nation, Korea actively participates in the international response to the climate crisis. Hosting key international climate organisations, such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Korea works to transfer technology and expertise to developing countries. Alongside the UNFCCC and GGGI, Korea is also working to develop the Global Voluntary Carbon Market.
To establish clear standards that enhance transparency and investor confidence in climate finance, Korea launched its Green Taxonomy in 2021. As a major IT powerhouse, Korea aims to leverage advanced technologies, including AI and blockchain, to activate the global carbon market.
The UAE has also taken a leading role in advancing climate finance, notably by hosting COP28 in 2023 and launching the Global Climate Finance Centre (GCFC).
By combining their technological and financial strengths, Korea and the UAE can make a major contribution to the global response to climate change.
The UAE, as Korea’s only special strategic partner in the Middle East, has built deep and enduring trust. The UAE showed profound confidence in Korea’s technological capability and safety by importing four Korean nuclear reactors, becoming the first country in the world to do so. In turn, Korea has strengthened friendship through the cumulative deployment of 4,000 troops to the UAE over the past 15 years. This demonstrates that our two nations are evolving together as true partners who respect each other’s security and design their shared future.
