LONDON: The US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright is visiting the UAE this week on his first international trip.
Wright’s visit to Abu Dhabi follows agreement on several deals between the US and the UAE in March, totaling $1.4 trillion in investments across energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, and artificial intelligence.
His discussions with senior UAE ministers and officials will focus on enhancing collaboration to drive sustainable economic growth and energy innovation in both countries, the Emirates News Agency reported.
Among those meeting Wright are Suhail Mohamed Al-Mazrouei, the minister of energy and infrastructure; Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber, the minister of industry and advanced technology; Yousef Al-Otaiba, the UAE’s ambassador to the US; and Martina Strong, US ambassador to the UAE.
Wright will also meet senior leaders in the energy, AI, and investment sectors in the UAE to discuss technological collaboration, accelerating bilateral trade, and strengthening joint investment initiatives, WAM added.
Al-Jaber said that Wright’s visit “reflects the strength and depth of the UAE-US strategic relationship and our shared commitment to energy security, economic growth, and technological advancement.”
He added: “As we look to the future, we see vast opportunities to deepen collaboration across energy, infrastructure, AI, and industry — anchored in the pro-growth, pro-investment, and pro-people approach that both our nations champion.”
Wright said that the US and the UAE will continue discussions to strengthen their strategic relationship and support recent UAE investments in the US while promoting global energy security.
Wright and Al-Jaber are to co-host a Future Energy Leaders Majlis during the visit, and have invited Emirati and American youth leaders, some Ivy League alumni, and representatives from the US Department of Energy and the UAE’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.
The UAE is expanding its energy presence in the US through strategic investments in hydrogen, renewables, LNG (liquefied natural gas), and chemicals, which include partnerships with ExxonMobil and NextDecade, WAM added.
