Seoul: South Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have taken steps to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy and artificial intelligence (AI), with senior ministers from both countries holding high-level discussions in Seoul.
According to South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Resources, Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan met UAE Minister of Industry Sultan Al Jaber to review follow-up measures stemming from the leaders’ summit held in Abu Dhabi in November. The meeting focused on expanding strategic collaboration in advanced technologies and energy security.
During the talks, the two sides discussed joint participation in the UAE’s ambitious “Stargate” project, which aims to develop cloud infrastructure and artificial intelligence capabilities in the Middle East. South Korean officials highlighted the country’s strengths in semiconductors, data centres, engineering, and construction as key areas where Seoul could contribute to the project.
Energy cooperation also featured prominently in the discussions. Both ministers acknowledged that oil and gas trade remains a cornerstone of economic ties between the two nations and agreed to further enhance collaboration in the sector. The long-standing partnership, spanning over 13 years, has played a crucial role in stabilising energy supply chains for both countries. Talks were also held on increasing joint oil storage volumes.
Separately, UAE Minister Sultan Al Jaber met South Korea’s Climate Minister Kim Sung-hwan to explore broader energy cooperation. During this meeting, Seoul proposed the use of South Korea’s low-carbon power infrastructure technologies—such as smart power grids and energy storage systems—in the Stargate project.
The two sides also discussed organising a joint energy conference aimed at supporting the global goal of doubling renewable energy capacity by 2030, reinforcing their shared commitment to sustainable development and clean energy transition.
