UAE is actively participating in the Gulf-US Summit being held in Riyadh, with His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, leading the national delegation.
The high-level summit marks a significant moment for regional diplomacy, bringing together leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council and the United States to address shared concerns and chart a course for greater collaboration in critical areas including regional security, economic partnerships, and sustainable development.
The summit’s agenda reflects the evolving geopolitical landscape in the Middle East and the broader Gulf region, where countries are increasingly seeking strategic partnerships that extend beyond defense to encompass technology, clean energy, trade diversification, and environmental resilience. With rising global instability, shifting economic alliances, and a growing emphasis on climate commitments, the Riyadh summit is seen as a platform to reaffirm the strength of the Gulf-US relationship and outline new pathways for joint initiatives.
During the summit sessions, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE’s commitment to strengthening collective security mechanisms while promoting stability through dialogue and diplomacy. The UAE has consistently played a mediating role in regional tensions, emphasizing the importance of de-escalation, peaceful coexistence, and multilateral engagement. In the context of rising tensions in neighboring zones and the aftermath of various global conflicts, the UAE’s voice at the summit reaffirms its position as a balanced and proactive regional actor.
A key focus of the discussions is on deepening economic cooperation. With the global economy experiencing volatility due to inflation, trade realignments, and energy market shifts, Gulf states are aligning closely with the US to ensure continued investment flows, secure energy transition pathways, and facilitate high-tech innovation. The UAE, already a leader in areas like renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and logistics, is advocating for greater integration of Gulf economies with American technological and industrial ecosystems.
Sustainable development is another cornerstone of the summit’s dialogue. As part of its broader economic diversification efforts, the UAE has placed sustainability at the heart of its national agenda, particularly in light of its leadership in hosting COP28 and advancing initiatives like the Net Zero 2050 Strategy. The summit offers an opportunity to build multilateral cooperation around clean energy, climate finance, and carbon neutrality—a goal shared by many Gulf states and strongly backed by US diplomatic and environmental commitments.
Sheikh Khaled’s participation also signals a generational shift in Gulf leadership, bringing fresh perspectives on issues such as innovation-led growth, education reform, youth empowerment, and digital transformation. His engagement at the summit reflects the UAE’s long-term vision of future-focused governance, where partnerships are built on mutual respect, strategic foresight, and people-centered development.
On the defense and security front, the summit is expected to reaffirm longstanding military ties between the Gulf states and the US, while exploring new modes of regional coordination on cybersecurity, maritime safety, counterterrorism, and advanced defense technologies. With evolving security threats, the UAE continues to call for comprehensive frameworks that combine military preparedness with humanitarian diplomacy and regional cooperation.
The Riyadh summit also provides space for bilateral dialogues between the UAE and other Gulf partners, reinforcing intra-regional cohesion at a time when collective action is crucial for managing cross-border challenges—whether in public health, food security, or supply chain resilience.
As the summit concludes, it is expected to produce a joint declaration reaffirming commitments to peace, prosperity, and partnership. For the UAE, its participation reflects both continuity and progression: a continuation of its historical ties with the US and GCC members, and a progressive outlook that seeks to elevate those ties into the realms of sustainability, innovation, and shared global leadership.
By aligning its national vision with regional and global frameworks, the UAE is not only contributing to the immediate success of the summit but also reinforcing its role as a forward-looking, influential voice in shaping the future of Gulf-US relations.
