UAE’s President and Elon Musk discuss AI and collaboration opportunities
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with American entrepreneur Elon Musk to discuss the latest developments in advanced technology and artificial intelligence (AI), and their shared interests in innovation and partnerships on accelerating the adoption of cutting edge solutions.
As per WAM News Agency, both leaders emphasized the value of collaboration and knowledge exchange in enabling nations and specialized institutions to lead digital transformation and tackle future challenges effectively.
The discussions touch upon ongoing developments in AI and next-generation technologies, and how such tools could be deployed to improve quality of life, accelerate global innovation and support long-term economic development.
Both sides stressed the importance of international partnerships and knowledge exchange to speed up technological adoption and strengthen countries’ ability to respond to future challenges.
The high-level meeting was attended by prominent leaders including HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi; HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defense; HH Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council (AIATC); HH Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs; HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs; along with several ministers and senior officials.
Earlier on Sunday, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, also met with Elon Musk to explore technological transformations and their role in shaping a sustainable and prosperous future. The meeting was attended by Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the UAE.
The discussions focused on leveraging emerging technologies to drive comprehensive development and address global challenges. Sheikh Hamdan highlighted the UAE and Dubai’s emergence as global hubs for technology and innovation, emphasising the role of forward-looking legislative and regulatory frameworks that encourage early adoption of new technologies.
He also underscored the importance of attracting specialised talent and fostering partnerships with leading international technology companies. These efforts, Sheikh Hamdan noted, have earned the UAE global recognition as a destination where innovation thrives.
Elon Musk praised the UAE’s forward-looking vision and its achievements in technology, artificial intelligence, and space exploration. He conveyed his best wishes to the UAE, its leadership, and its people for continued progress and prosperity.
The meeting was attended by Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, and Deputy Managing Director of the Dubai Future Foundation, along with Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.
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United Arab Emirates (UAE) has rapidly emerged as a global hub for artificial intelligence, with total domestic and international investment since the beginning of 2024 reaching approximately $148 billion. The biggest domestic projects include Stargate Data Centert valued at $27.2 billion (100 billion AED) as well as Abu Dhabi Government Digital Strategy (2025–2027), $3.54 billion (13 billion AED) commitment to integrate AI across all government services by 2027.
