The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has developed a robust economic partnership with the United States, valued at $1 trillion. This relationship spans various sectors, including energy, technology, and healthcare. Recently, Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and UAE National Security Adviser, held high-level discussions with US President Donald Trump and senior administration officials in Washington, D.C., aimed at further enhancing these bilateral ties.

Following these meetings, Sheikh Tahnoun emphasized the UAE’s commitment to strengthen economic connections with the US. He noted that investments in artificial intelligence, advanced technology, infrastructure, energy, and healthcare are pivotal for sustainable growth and development. He shared these insights through a post on X, underlining the significance of these sectors in the ongoing partnership.

The economic collaboration has shown considerable growth, with bilateral trade reaching $34.4 billion in 2024. US exports to the Emirates accounted for nearly $27 billion, making the UAE America’s third-largest trade surplus globally. Over the past five years, US exports to the UAE have risen at an annual rate of 4.38%, increasing from $19.8 billion in 2018 to $24.6 billion in 2023. Major exports include gas turbines ($3.48 billion), automobiles ($3.08 billion), and aircraft parts ($1.6 billion).

Conversely, UAE exports to the US, primarily consisting of raw aluminum ($1.58 billion), refined petroleum ($764 million), and crude petroleum ($568 million), have grown at an annualized rate of 4.58%, reaching $6.19 billion in 2023. This trade boom reflects the benefits for both nations, as the partnership supports approximately 161,000 American jobs, according to the UAE Embassy in Washington.

As the partnership evolves, both countries are increasingly focusing on technology collaboration, particularly in artificial intelligence. A significant development occurred last April when Microsoft invested $1.5 billion in Abu Dhabi’s G42. This partnership aims to deliver advanced AI and cloud solutions globally and includes the establishment of Microsoft’s Global Engineering Development Center in the UAE, marking one of the company’s first engineering centers in the Arab world.

The collaboration in technology is further exemplified by Abu Dhabi’s G42 working with California-based Cerebras Systems to launch the Condor Galaxy supercomputer, touted as the world’s largest and fastest AI system. Additionally, IBM and the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence have established an AI Center of Excellence to develop carbon-neutral energy solutions and enhance natural language processing for Arabic dialects.

The Trump administration has also facilitated significant UAE investments, such as DAMAC Properties’ commitment of up to $20 billion to build data centers across the American Midwest and Sun Belt. Moreover, UAE-based MGX has partnered with BlackRock, Microsoft, and Global Infrastructure Partners as initial equity funders in Texas’s Stargate project, a new AI joint venture that aims for an initial $100 billion investment, with plans to reach $500 billion over four years.

Clean energy initiatives are also a focal point of the partnership, with the UAE-US Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE) established in 2022 to support clean energy investments. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, who accompanied Sheikh Tahnoun during the Washington visit, highlighted investment opportunities in the “energy-AI nexus” at the recent CERAWeek conference in Houston.

The UAE’s renewable energy company, Masdar, has made considerable investments in clean energy projects across several US states, including Texas, New Mexico, and California. Furthermore, ADNOC, the UAE’s state oil company, holds stakes in an ExxonMobil hydrogen plant and the NextDecade Rio Grande LNG export center in Texas. The partnership has also seen significant aircraft orders from Boeing by UAE airlines, further enhancing aerospace ties, along with collaborations with NASA and other US space firms to advance the UAE’s space exploration goals.

Healthcare innovation is another promising area of growth, exemplified by Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s collaboration with US medical institutions to perform the UAE’s first robot-assisted kidney transplants. Vice President JD Vance engaged with the UAE delegation to discuss fostering collaboration on energy investment, technological leadership, and stimulating unprecedented economic growth. Sheikh Tahnoun remarked on the leadership and economic policies of both countries, calling them a strong impetus for encouraging foreign direct investment and reinforcing the existing economic partnership.