Abu Dhabi has sent one of its largest recent business delegations to South Korea, bringing together representatives from more than 88 public and private-sector organizations for a three-day visit focused on trade, investment and technology.
The mission, led by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was scheduled to run from September 15 to 17.
Officials and executives from the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, Abu Dhabi Global Market, Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Hub71, Etihad Airways, Emirates Global Aluminium and Core42 were among those named as participants. The presence of regulators, investors, industrial companies and technology businesses points to a mission extending beyond conventional trade promotion.
At the center of the visit is an effort to turn the UAE-South Korea relationship into more commercial activity across artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, energy, water, education, space and agricultural technology. The two countries established a Special Strategic Partnership in 2018, creating a government-level framework that has since expanded into trade, investment and industrial cooperation.
Shamis Ali Khalfan Al Dhaheri, Chairman of the Department of Community Development, Second Vice Chairman of ADCCI, said: “The UAE and the Republic of Korea have charted pathways to progress and economic transformations to evolve into global powerhouses, focusing on emerging technologies and innovative solutions that drive long-term prosperity for us and our partners. The partnership between Abu Dhabi and the Republic of Korea exemplifies our shared vision to build diversified, resilient, sustainable and future-ready economies."
Trade Pact Sets New Terms for Business
The delegation arrived several months after the UAE-South Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement entered into force on May 1, 2026. The agreement was signed in May 2024 and is designed to lower trade barriers, improve market access and establish clearer rules for companies operating between the two economies.
Bilateral trade exceeded $19.8 billion in 2025, while non-oil trade reached $6.9 billion. Non-oil trade increased by 4.5% from the previous year, and the number of Korean-owned companies operating in Abu Dhabi rose by 5.8%.
The trade agreement gives the Seoul meetings a more practical foundation than a stand-alone diplomatic visit. Companies considering cross-border expansion now have a formal framework covering tariffs, customs procedures, services, investment and digital trade.
Investment Forum Produces Business Agreements
A major component of the visit was the first Abu Dhabi Investment Forum held in Seoul. The September 16 event brought Korean companies together with Abu Dhabi government agencies, investors and business leaders to discuss opportunities in financial services, advanced technology, logistics, manufacturing, life sciences and renewable energy.
Several memorandums of understanding emerged from the forum in fields including digital assets, autonomous driving and gaming. Korean participants included Hanwha Life Insurance and Kakao Mobility, while Second Vice Minister of Science and ICT Ryu Jae-myung attended on behalf of the South Korean government.
Memorandums do not carry the same weight as completed investments, and their commercial significance will depend on whether they lead to binding agreements. The range of sectors represented at the forum suggests that the relationship is moving beyond its traditional concentration on oil, nuclear power and large infrastructure projects. Financial technology, mobility and digital entertainment are now appearing alongside manufacturing and energy in bilateral discussions.
AI and Industry Move up the Agenda
Artificial intelligence has become an increasingly visible part of UAE-South Korea cooperation. South Korea agreed in 2025 to participate in the UAE’s Stargate artificial intelligence infrastructure initiative, opening the way for collaboration involving investment, semiconductors, data centers, supply chains and research.
The first phase of Stargate UAE involves a one-gigawatt computing cluster in Abu Dhabi, with an initial 200 megawatts expected to become operational in 2026. OpenAI’s project announcement identified G42, Oracle, Nvidia, Cisco and SoftBank among the participating companies. South Korea’s importance to the wider AI supply chain comes partly from its semiconductor industry, led by memory-chip producers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.
Industrial cooperation is developing in parallel. The UAE has maintained a $30 billion investment commitment covering strategic areas of the South Korean economy, including nuclear energy, hydrogen, renewable energy, semiconductors and advanced technology. Abu Dhabi authorities also said planning is underway for a dedicated zone for Korean manufacturers in the emirate, although details such as its location, cost, timetable and participating companies have not yet been publicly specified.
South Korean companies could use Abu Dhabi as a base for reaching customers across the Middle East and other nearby markets, while Emirati investors gain access to Korean expertise in semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, clean energy and digital services.
The Seoul visit marks another step in a relationship that is becoming broader but remains a work in progress. The trade agreement, investment forum and technology partnerships provide a framework for expansion.
