Washington:Omran Sharaf, Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Science and Technology, led a UAE delegation to Washington, DC, to strengthen the UAE-US partnership in advanced science and technology. The delegation engaged in meetings with senior US officials, research institutions, think tanks, and technology companies, focusing on areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, space, and quantum computing.
According to Emirates News Agency, the delegation included Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Government Cybersecurity Council, and Dr. Mohamed Alkhemairi, Executive Director of the Research and Development Ecosystem at the Advanced Technology Research Council, along with representatives from the UAE Space Agency and Space42.
Omran Sharaf conducted meetings with Michael Kratsios, Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, to explore opportunities for technological collaboration between the two nations. Sharaf also met with Jacob Helberg, Undersecretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, and Adam Cassady, Ambassador-at-Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy at the US Department of State, to discuss expanding cooperation in advanced technologies and enhancing information sharing.
Discussions with the US Department of Commerce focused on trade and technology cooperation, including the recent decision to elevate the UAE to Country Group A:5 status under the Export Administration Regulations. The visit also encompassed interactions with US think tanks and private-sector companies, such as the Hudson Institute, CSIS, and IonQ, to explore partnerships in advanced technologies.
Sharaf participated in a discussion at Johns Hopkins University on the impact of emerging technologies on global relations and the economy. He emphasized the strong strategic partnership between the UAE and the US, underscoring the UAE's commitment to being a responsible and trusted technology partner, and the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation to advance shared interests.