In a bid to further strengthen its strategic cooperation with the U.S. in advanced technology and innovation, the UAE participated recently at CES 2025, a premier global technology event held in Las Vegas.
During his participation, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, met with senior U.S. officials and business leaders, emphasizing the UAE’s dedication to strengthening technology ties with the U.S. and solidifying its status as a global hub for innovation, artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies.
Enhancing long-term technology partnerships
During his visit, Al Zeyoudi engaged with senior U.S. officials, including Nevada Lt. Governor Stavros Anthony, and representatives from the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Las Vegas Chamber.
Discussions centered on enhancing long-term UAE-U.S. technology partnerships, exploring collaborative opportunities and promoting the UAE’s value proposition, which includes state-of-the-art infrastructure, a skilled talent pool and a business-friendly ecosystem that serves as a gateway to rapidly growing markets in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
“The UAE’s dynamic tech ecosystem, bolstered by initiatives like NextGen FDI, offers fresh opportunities for U.S. companies looking to scale their operations and access high-growth markets. Total UAE investment in the U.S. already tops $35 billion, and officials from both countries are working together to create additional opportunities for businesses and investors,” stated Al Zeyoudi.
Al Zeyoudi added that as the two countries continue to expand their partnerships in advanced technology, they seek to foster innovation, create jobs and accelerate the adoption of next-generation technologies.
Al Zeyoudi meets key C-suite executives
During the three-day visit, Al Zeyoudi also engaged with C-suite executives from leading tech companies specializing in AI, health and automotive technologies, including major industry players, including Accenture, Qualcomm, the Consumer Technology Association, Skylo and MGM Resorts International.
Additionally, he participated in a panel discussion on current geopolitical trends and challenges, providing a positive outlook on global trade and highlighting the UAE’s role in bridging markets and facilitating seamless trade flows. He highlighted that, through its Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) program, the UAE is actively expanding trade ties and fostering greater connectivity with strategic global markets.
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UAE-U.S. trade ties grow
Notably, the U.S. is the UAE’s fourth-largest trading partner globally, accounting for 4.8 percent of the UAE’s total non-oil trade. In the first nine months of 2024, bilateral non-oil trade reached $28.3 billion, marking a 46.2 percent growth compared to the same period in 2019.
The UAE is also the most important trading partner in the Arab World for the U.S., with bilateral trade comprising 27 percent of America’s trade with the region.
In terms of investments, the UAE holds $35 billion in assets in the U.S., representing more than 50 percent of the total FDI from Arab countries in the U.S. at the end of 2023. Meanwhile, U.S. investments in the UAE exceeded $5 billion by the end of 2022.
