The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), together with the Federation of Korean Industries, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade, and the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce, hosted the Korea–UAE Business Roundtable on November 19 at the Emirates Palace Hotel. The event was held under the theme “Future Partnership: Innovation, Sustainability, and Shared Prosperity.”
The roundtable took place during President Lee Jae-myung’s state visit to the UAE and brought together more than 50 senior business leaders and officials. From the Korean side, participants included KOTRA President Kang Kyung-sung, FKI Chairman Ryu Jin, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, and Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun.
The UAE was represented by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed Al Nahyan, Mubadala CEO Khaldoon Al Mubarak, and Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi.
Three Key Sectors: Advanced Industries, Energy & Defense, and Culture
Discussions were divided into three major cooperation areas:
▲ Advanced industries ▲ Infrastructure, energy, and defense ▲ Cultural collaboration
Korea and the UAE, long-standing partners since Korean firms first joined major infrastructure construction projects in the UAE, explored pathways to deepen future cooperation. The talks emphasized high-tech manufacturing, clean energy initiatives, defense industry collaboration, and cultural exchange programs.
Follow-Up Event to Turn Dialogue into Outcomes
To build on the momentum generated at the roundtable, KOTRA will host the “Korea–UAE Economic Cooperation Plaza” on November 20 at the Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi. Twenty-three Korean companies in AI, clean energy, and related technology sectors will participate.
These companies will meet with UAE project owners and buyers for one-on-one business consultations. KOTRA aims to convert the strengthened cooperation climate into concrete commercial results and long-term partnership opportunities.
