The United Arab Emirates is set to host United States Secretary of Energy Chris Wright on his first international trip in the role, marking a significant moment in the evolving strategic partnership between the two nations. Abu Dhabi will serve as the first stop in Secretary Wright’s regional tour across the Middle East.
His visit comes on the heels of a successful UAE leadership delegation to Washington, DC in March, during which both sides reaffirmed their mutual commitment to deeper collaboration—particularly in energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, and artificial intelligence (AI).
During his stay, Secretary Wright is scheduled to meet with top Emirati officials and industry leaders, including Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNOC, Chairman of Masdar, and Executive Chairman of XRG; Mohamed Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment; Mariam Almheiri, Head of the International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court; Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the US; and Martina Strong, US Ambassador to the UAE.
The visit aims to expand cooperation in sustainable economic growth and energy innovation, with a focus on shared strategic priorities.
Dr. Sultan Al Jaber stated, “We are honored to welcome Secretary Wright to the UAE on his first official overseas visit, which follows the successful UAE delegation visit to Washington DC, which was led by H.H. Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and National Security Adviser. His presence reflects the strength and depth of the UAE-US strategic relationship and our shared commitment to energy security, economic growth, and technological advancement.
The UAE values its longstanding partnership with the United States – one built on mutual respect, common interests, and a shared commitment to invest in progress. 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.”
Secretary Wright is also set to engage with a wide range of leaders in energy, AI, and investment sectors, including Mohamed Al Hammadi (ENEC), Mohamed Al Ramahi (Masdar), Musabbeh Al Kaabi (ADNOC Upstream), Khaled Salmeen (ADNOC Downstream, XRG), Thomas Pramotedham (Presight), Dr. Bakheet Al Katheeri (Mubadala UAE Investments), Syed Basar Shueb (IHC), Ahmed Yahia (MGX), and Magzhan Kenesbai (AIQ). Discussions will center on technological collaboration, cross-border trade, and joint investment initiatives.
Secretary Chris Wright expressed enthusiasm about the visit, stating, “I’m looking forward to making my first trip to the United Arab Emirates as Secretary of Energy, and I thank President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and H.H. Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan for their invitation.”
He added, “Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber and I have already had productive discussions in Washington, DC and in Houston regarding our countries’ longstanding energy partnership. We will continue this dialogue to strengthen our countries’ strategic relationship, support the UAE’s recently announced investments in the United States, and advance global energy security during my visit.”
A key feature of the visit will be the Future Energy Leaders Majlis, co-hosted by Secretary Wright and Dr. Al Jaber. The event will bring together Emirati and American youth leaders, including alumni from MIT, UC Berkeley, and other top institutions, along with officials from the U.S. Department of Energy and the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. The forum aims to highlight the two nations’ shared vision of empowering the next generation to lead the global energy transition.
The visit underscores a growing alignment between the UAE and the U.S. on the crucial role of energy abundance in supporting industrial growth and AI development. Through key players like XRG and Masdar, the UAE continues to expand its energy footprint in the U.S., with investments in hydrogen, renewables, LNG, and chemicals, including strategic partnerships with ExxonMobil and NextDecade.
These efforts are part of a broader strategy encompassing bilateral investments and agreements like the UAE-US 123 Agreement for Civil Nuclear Cooperation, aimed at building secure, sustainable, and scalable energy systems for the future.
