Senior officials from the U.S. and UAE held their first interagency working group meeting on March 26 in Washington, the State Department said.
DUBAI: The United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to expand their collaboration in artificial intelligence, officials announced, convening their first joint working group meeting in Washington amid ongoing regional tensions and growing global competition with China.
According to the State Department, senior officials from both nations held the inaugural interagency working group session on March 26 in Washington as part of the US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership.
The meeting was co-chaired by U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg and UAE Minister of Investment Mohamed Al Suwaidi, with officials from key U.S. departments and UAE agencies in attendance.
The State Department noted that artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the global economy and spurring new growth, identifying it as a priority area for both nations.
The UAE reaffirmed its $1.4 trillion investment commitment to the U.S., originally announced last May, emphasizing that the pledge remains despite regional instability. UAE entities are already channeling funds into U.S. digital infrastructure projects.
Washington also reiterated its commitments under the AI agreement, confirming that the terms remain unchanged. This includes providing the UAE with access to advanced U.S.-origin AI chips, subject to security regulations.
U.S. officials highlighted progress by the UAE-based firm G42, describing its regulatory framework as a “gold standard” for managing sensitive technology.
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized that trusted partners are essential for sustaining American leadership in AI and competing globally, particularly with China.
Both nations agreed to strengthen cooperation on export controls, investment screening, and regulatory alignment, with further technical discussions planned.
The State Department noted that holding the meeting amid Gulf tensions underscores the importance both governments place on the partnership and their long-term commitment to it.
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