South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung arrived in Abu Dhabi on 17–18 November 2025 for a state visit that signals both capitals want to deepen economic, technology and space cooperation. He was met with a formal military escort and senior UAE officials, and talks this week are expected to focus on trade, investment, energy, defence-related industry partnerships and joint high-tech projects.
President Lee Jae-myung kicks off UAE State visit
The Republic of Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung arrived in Abu Dhabi on Monday, November 17, 2025, for a crucial state visit to the United Arab Emirates. This three-day stop marked the start of President Lee’s 10-day, four-nation tour, his first to the Middle East since taking office. The UAE, being the only country in the region with which South Korea shares a Special Strategic Partnership, welcomed the delegation with an extraordinary show of honor. As the presidential aircraft entered UAE airspace, it was escorted by a formation of military jets. Later, at the formal reception at Qasr Al Watan, the UAE Air Force aerobatic team, Al Fursan, performed a flypast, trailing smoke in the colors of the South Korean flag.
Visit agenda
President Lee’s visit, often dubbed the “Team Korea” trip, was accompanied by a powerful delegation of industrial giants, including Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan. This move underscored the visit’s focus on immediate economic outcomes, which were discussed at a dedicated Korea-UAE Business Roundtable.The relationship is built on solid financial foundations:
- $30 Billion Investment Pledge: The visit follows the UAE’s 2023 commitment to invest $30 billion into strategic sectors in South Korea.
- Trade Growth: Non-oil trade between the two nations reached $6.6 billion in 2024, showing steady yearly growth.
- CEPA Activation: The leaders sought ways to advance the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed in 2024, which aims to eliminate tariffs on over 90% of bilateral trade.
The two nations also celebrated their profound cooperation in the energy sector. The UAE’s Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, built by South Korean firms, stands as a monumental success, now generating about a quarter of the UAE’s electricity. Building on this achievement, the leaders agreed to expand cooperation into Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and even look at jointly entering the third-country nuclear power plant market.
Defense and high-tech frontiers
A central theme of the visit was Korea’s role as a strategic partner in defense and future-oriented technologies. The UAE has historically relied on Korean expertise, notably becoming the first foreign nation to acquire the Cheongung-II surface-to-air missile system in a $3.5 billion deal in 2022. During the trip, Korean defense executives, including those from Hanwha and Hyundai Motor Group, actively promoted advanced weapon systems like the K9 self-propelled howitzer and the Redback infantry fighting vehicle. Looking ahead, the focus shifted to the fourth industrial revolution:
- AI and Semiconductors: President Lee stated that Korea is uniquely positioned to supply the advanced AI memory semiconductors required by the UAE’s National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031.
- Middle East Gateway: Crucially, President Lee framed the UAE as a “strategic gateway” and “base camp” for South Korean firms and talent looking to expand into the broader Middle East, Africa, and Europe. He expressed a desire for the relationship to evolve from a “brotherly nation” status into a shared “economic community.”
President Lee’s state visit is a carefully staged push to turn strong diplomatic signalling into concrete commercial and technological collaboration. Over the coming days, watch for formal announcements on trade, investment frameworks, and sector-specific MOUs that will translate diplomatic goodwill into projects and jobs.
