Abu dhabi: South Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to collaborate on the UAE's major artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure initiative, the Stargate project, as announced by the presidential office. The cooperation was formalized through a framework agreement on strategic AI collaboration during a summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. Ha Jung-woo, presidential secretary for AI policy and future planning, shared details of the agreement with reporters.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the agreement is a significant step in expanding bilateral cooperation in advanced industries, including AI, nuclear energy, aerospace, and health care. The Stargate project aims to develop a cluster of AI data centers in Abu Dhabi, starting with a 200-megawatt facility set to come online next year. The project is part of a planned 5-gigawatt AI campus, with global companies expected to make an initial investment of 30 trillion won (US$20.5 billion).
The agreement is among seven memorandums of understanding (MOUs) signed during President Lee's state visit to the UAE. These MOUs cover areas such as investment, infrastructure, supply chains, the deployment of AI and advanced technologies, and joint research and development. The two countries also plan to collaborate on shipping and logistics projects based on "physical AI," integrating AI into physical systems. This will begin with a pilot project at South Korea's Busan Port and Abu Dhabi's Khalifa Port.
During the summit, discussions also focused on expanding cooperation in the defense industry. The two nations explored opportunities for joint development, production, and export of weapons systems to third countries. Kang Hoon-sik, the presidential chief of staff, highlighted the potential boost to Korean defense exports and opportunities for entering third-country markets.
In the energy sector, the Korea Electric Power Corporation and the UAE's Emirates Nuclear Energy Company signed an agreement to cooperate on developing new technologies, including small modular reactors and integrating AI into nuclear power plants. This collaboration aims to facilitate joint entry into global markets.
Space exploration was another key area of strategic cooperation, with agreements to deepen collaboration in the aerospace sector, including joint satellite development and satellite navigation infrastructure. The agreement sets the stage for sharing expertise and technology in lunar and Mars exploration.
Other MOUs include the implementation of the bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed last year and strengthened cooperation in intellectual property rights. The UAE is the first Middle Eastern nation to sign such a deal with South Korea. The two sides also discussed expanding the crude oil stockpile held in South Korea by the UAE's Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.
Additionally, the countries agreed to establish "K-City" in the UAE as a platform for cooperation in cutting-edge technologies and cultural industries. Follow-up discussions are planned to continue this initiative. The anticipated economic benefits across the defense industry, AI, and cultural sectors are estimated at around 150 trillion won, marking the beginning of an "economic alliance" between South Korea and the UAE.