T + T – Normal size
The visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, to the United States of America represents a prominent milestone in the historical path of bilateral relations between the two countries, which began more than half a century ago.
The visit comes within the framework of the strategic relations between the two friendly countries, which have maintained their depth and stability since the beginning, as the UAE is one of the most prominent main partners of the United States of America in the region and the world.
The visit embodies the UAE’s approach to strengthening bridges of partnership, enhancing dialogue, and building effective and balanced relations based on trust, credibility, and mutual respect with countries of the world, to enhance international stability and peace, and achieve development and prosperity for all peoples.
UAE-US relations are strategic in nature, with both countries committed to cooperation and continuous efforts to enhance regional security, achieve economic prosperity, and confront challenges around the world.
The bilateral coordination between the two countries includes various frameworks, including development, political, security, economic, commercial, and military, while they are united by many economic and security partnerships linked to the announcement of the Abraham Accords for Peace in 2019.
Bilateral diplomatic relations between the UAE and the United States of America were established shortly after the founding of the UAE in 1971. The UAE embassy was inaugurated in Washington in 1974, and the US embassy in Abu Dhabi was opened during the same year.
The two countries have distinguished economic and investment relations, as the volume of non-oil foreign trade (excluding services) between the UAE and the United States of America in 2023 amounted to about $39.5 billion, compared to about $23.8 billion in 2022.
UAE imports from the United States of America increased to reach $25.9 billion in 2023, compared to about $21.3 billion in 2022.
UAE exports to the United States increased from $3.2 billion in 2022 to $3.9 billion in 2023, while UAE re-exports to the United States increased in 2023 to $9.6 billion compared to $8.2 billion in 2022.
The UAE’s investments in the United States amounted to about $3.7 billion between 2018 and 2023, while the United States’ investments in the UAE amounted to about $9.5 billion during the same period.
The main sectors of UAE investments in the United States of America include renewable energy, communications, energy, real estate, software services, and information technology.
This year has witnessed the signing of several partnership and investment agreements between the two countries in the field of technology and artificial intelligence. On June 1, World Wide Technology, a leading technology integration company based in the United States of America, signed a strategic agreement with NXT Global to establish and develop the first artificial intelligence integration center in Masdar City in the UAE, which will be one of the most sustainable urban developments in the world.
On April 15, Microsoft announced a $1.5 billion strategic investment in G42, furthering increased collaboration in AI and technology.
The UAE’s launch of the Hope Probe in 2021 has strengthened scientific cooperation in space exploration between the UAE and the United States, which was clearly demonstrated by the UAE’s new mission to the asteroid belt in cooperation with the University of Colorado Boulder.
In the same context, the UAE is playing a major role in NASA’s Lunar Gateway project, as it will develop a dedicated airlock unit for the crew and scientists, and will send the first Emirati astronaut into lunar orbit, according to an initiative announced last June. The unit, which is essential for the safety of the astronauts and mission operations, is scheduled to be launched by 2030.
Climate action is one of the most important aspects of fruitful cooperation between the two countries, as highlighted by the Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE), which aims to mobilize $100 billion to produce 100 gigawatts of clean energy by 2035.
The UAE is also co-leading the AIM for Climate initiative with the United States, which includes more than 50 countries and 500 partners, to promote sustainable agriculture. In addition, Masdar has invested in 11 clean energy projects in the United States, including the Big Beau solar and battery project near Los Angeles.
