The United Arab Emirates and the United States are moving to deepen their strategic alliance in advanced technology, with a proposed Science and Technology (S&T) Agreement becoming a central topic during the eleventh US-UAE Economic Policy Dialogue. The high-level meeting, held in Abu Dhabi on January 15, 2026, was co-chaired by UAE Minister of State H.E. Saeed Mubarak Al Hajeri and US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg, signaling a joint commitment to formalize collaboration in critical future-focused sectors.
According to a statement from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the dialogue underscored how artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies now form the core of the economic relationship between the two nations.
Formalizing a High-Tech Partnership
First proposed by the Biden administration in November 2023, the S&T Agreement aims to establish official frameworks for research and development collaboration. If finalized, the pact would cover key areas such as AI, quantum computing, genomics, and space exploration.
Typical US bilateral S&T agreements create structured pathways for co-funding joint research, establishing joint research centers, and facilitating scientific exchanges and educational programs, which would significantly accelerate the UAE’s knowledge-based economy goals.
Building on the AI Acceleration Partnership
The proposed S&T agreement builds upon the existing US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership, a landmark deal signed during President Trump’s visit in May 2025. This partnership created approved channels for US companies to export advanced AI semiconductors to trusted American and Emirati entities in the UAE, unlocking significant Emirati investment into US AI infrastructure and research.
A key provision of the partnership includes a reciprocal investment clause, committing the UAE to match any investment in building regional data centers with an equivalent investment in the United States, further intertwining the two nations’ tech ecosystems.
Securing Future Supply Chains
Reinforcing its role in the global tech landscape, the UAE officially joined the US-led Pax Silica Declaration on January 14, 2026. This initiative is focused on building secure, resilient, and innovation-driven supply chains for foundational technologies, particularly semiconductors, which are critical to the AI era.
Stargate UAE: A Landmark AI Infrastructure Project
Discussions also reviewed progress on the monumental five-gigawatt AI campus under construction in the UAE, which is set to be the world’s largest outside the United States. A direct outcome of the AI Acceleration Partnership, this campus will serve as a hub for technology companies, public entities, and research centers.
The first major deal under this framework is Stargate UAE, a project exceeding $30 billion led by G42, Cisco, OpenAI, Oracle, NVIDIA, and SoftBank Group. It represents the first international deployment of OpenAI’s ambitious Stargate Project, with 200 megawatts of data center capacity expected to be online by the end of 2026.
Economic Underpinnings of the Tech Alliance
The deepening tech collaboration is backed by robust economic ties. The UAE reiterated its commitment to invest $1.4 trillion in the United States over the next decade, solidifying its position as America’s largest regional economic partner. Bilateral non-oil trade reached $19.3 billion in the first half of 2025, a 3.4 percent year-on-year growth, with total non-oil trade surpassing $38 billion in 2024.
About The US-UAE Economic Policy Dialogue
The US-UAE Economic Policy Dialogue is a recurring high-level forum between officials from the United Arab Emirates and the United States. Its purpose is to discuss and advance bilateral cooperation on a wide range of economic issues, including trade, investment, and strategic initiatives in key sectors like technology and energy. The dialogue serves as a primary platform for strengthening the economic partnership between the two nations.
Source: Middle East AI News
