Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim), the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae Kyung-hoon) and the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy Committee held the Korea-UAE Investment Forum on AI Infrastructure and Semiconductors in Seoul on May 13, 2026.

Following Korea’s state visit to the UAE in November 2025, the two countries formed a public-private working group and have since discussed cooperation across the AI ecosystem, including infrastructure, models and services. The forum was held to build on those discussions and translate them into practical outcomes.

A 25-member UAE delegation, led by H.E. Mohamed Abdul Rahman AlHawi, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Investment, visited Korea for the forum. The delegation included senior representatives from Core42, MGX, the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), Mubadala and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). H.E. Abdulla Saif Al Nuaimi, UAE Ambassador to Korea, also attended.

At a high-level meeting, senior officials from both sides recognized the need for strategic cooperation to develop the AI ecosystem as global competition in AI continues to evolve rapidly. A high-level panel discussion then covered areas where the two countries can combine their strengths, including low-power, high-efficiency AI infrastructure using AI semiconductors such as neural processing units (NPUs), as well as specialized services and demonstrations based on local-language AI models.
In the afternoon session, Korean companies introduced their technologies and business models through investment presentations on AI semiconductors, infrastructure and AI technologies. These were followed by business briefings, matching sessions and networking, giving companies from both countries an opportunity to discuss concrete investment cooperation.

The Korean government plans to continue follow-up discussions so that the forum leads beyond a one-off exchange to tangible results, including complementary technology development and joint entry into overseas markets.

“Competitiveness in the AI era depends not only on building AI infrastructure, but also on the ability to apply it in industrial settings,” said Kim Sung-youl, Deputy Minister for Industry and Growth at MOTIR. “The UAE brings strategic investment capacity and experience in large-scale projects, while Korea brings strengths in AI semiconductors, data centers and manufacturing. We will help the two sides identify practical opportunities in AI infrastructure and industrial AI, and support efforts to expand this cooperation into global markets.”

“The UAE and the Republic of Korea have built a forward-looking partnership around a shared vision for future industries,” said H.E. Mohamed Abdul Rahman AlHawi, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Investment. “That cooperation has gained strong momentum since the UAE announced its USD 30 billion investment commitment to Korea in 2023.” He added, “Major energy and AI projects, including Korea’s role in the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant and Korean participation in the Stargate AI Data Center Campus project in the UAE, already show the strategic value of the partnership. This visit is expected to help extend cooperation across the AI value chain.”