Business Council Tech Meeting Breaks New Ground on U.S.-U.A.E. AI Acceleration Partnership
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His Excellency Omran Sharaf, Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Science and Technology

“The U.S.-U.A.E. AI Acceleration Partnership has already created remarkable momentum. It combines a bold national strategy and vision in the U.A.E. with world class technology infrastructure from the U.S. alongside deep public and private commitment,” said Cisco Managing Director for the Gulf Region, Abdelilah Nejjari.

His comments captured the energy of a gathering of over 100 senior executives and government officials convened on October 15th, 2025 for a U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council Tech Working Group session on the U.S.-U.A.E. AI Acceleration Partnership. Held under Chatham House rules, the candid discussion between leading American and Emirati companies with government representatives of both countries, participants expressed their optimism for the bilateral partnership and emphasized their commitment to ensure its success.

Why it matters:

  • Today’s meeting brought industry leaders together following landmark developments in the U.S.-U.A.E. technology relationship earlier this year.
  • The U.A.E. committed to a 10-year, $1.4 trillion investment framework in the U.S. with a focus on AI, technology, and energy following H.H. Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed’s visit to the U.S. in March.
  • In May 2025, the U.S. and U.A.E. signed the landmark AI Acceleration Partnership following President Trump’s visit to the U.A.E., a government‑to‑government framework that commits to deepening bilateral cooperation on artificial intelligence and advanced tech.
  • Progress on the commitments made by the two governments are tied to the still awaited approval of additional AI chip exports to the U.A.E. This session provided a platform for members to exchange views on opportunities and ongoing challenges in the U.S.-U.A.E. AI Acceleration Partnership, and the importance of raising awareness among U.S. policy makers and political leaders on the strategic value of the U.S.-U.A.E. partnership on AI and advanced technologies.

His Excellency Omran Sharaf, Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Science and Technology gave a keynote address emphasizing the importance of international collaboration in emerging technologies.

  • He noted the U.A.E.’s long, strong, and reliable record of partnering with the U.S. on sensitive technology exchanges – in nuclear energy, defense, and space verticals – and how the country has developed strong safeguards for these technologies.
  • He highlighted the U.A.E.’s priorities and efforts in building global partnerships in artificial intelligence and advanced sciences, and the U.A.E.’s value proposition as the gateway to the Global South.
(L to R) U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council President, Danny Sebright; G42 Group Chief Global Affairs Officer, Talal Al Kaissi; Managing Director for Cisco, Gulf, Abdelilah Nejjari; AMD Senior Vice President for Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Stephanie Dismore; and Microsoft President for Middle East and North Africa, Naim Yazbeck.

The panelists speaking at the Business Council’s event represented U.S. and U.A.E. companies – G42, Microsoft, Cisco, and AMD – at the center of implementing this bilateral technology partnership. They engaged in a robust discussion on the evolving tech landscape between the United States and the United Arab Emirates and provided specific and tangible recommendations on how to move forward. Key points:Winning the AI Race: G42‘s Talal Al Kaissi, argued that winning the AI race needs a good offense, not just a good defense. While export controls serve as weak defense at best, “a good offence is responsible diffusion that builds market share which starts with winning mindshare.” He added that U.S. technology can achieve mass market dominance through a strategic partnership with the U.A.E.The U.A.E.’s emergence as a global AI leader: AMD’s Stephanie Dismore noted that, “the passion and drive for change in this region is second to none… the opportunity for growth is incredible and driven by the bold vision of the U.A.E.’s leadership.”Strengthening bilateral cooperation in artificial intelligence: Microsoft’s Naim Yazbeck reported that, since Microsoft and G42 began their partnership almost 18 months ago, Microsoft has begun work on six data centers in the U.A.E. to serve the whole region. He called it, “one of the best partnerships Microsoft has globally.”Featured panelists included:Stephanie Dismore, SVP for Europe, Middle East & Africa, AMDAbdelilah Nejjari, Managing Director, Gulf, CiscoTalal Al Kaissi, Group Chief Global Affairs Officer, G42Naim Yazbeck, President for Middle East and North Africa, MicrosoftModerated by the President of the Business Council Danny Sebright, the discussion underscored the shared ambition of both nations to lead in AI and digital transformation across industries.

This program reflects the ongoing work of the Business Council’s AI Task Force, which serves as a platform within its Tech Working Group for public-private dialogue on AI governance, international best practices, and sector-wide innovation, particularly in fields such as healthcare and energy. It was held on the sidelines of GITEX 2025.

To learn more about the U.A.E.’s fast-evolving technology landscape, please consult the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council and Morgan Lewis’s Guide to Doing Business in the U.A.E. To learn more about the Business Council’s technology programming, contact Maggie Paddock at mpaddock@usuaebusiness.org.