A South Korean presidential aide claims that following the conflict, AI collaboration with the UAE may pick up speed
South Korea’s senior presidential secretary for artificial intelligence Ha Jung-woo said on Wednesday that cooperation between South Korea and the United Arab Emirates in the field of artificial intelligence could accelerate once the ongoing conflict in the Middle East subsides, particularly as the UAE looks to strengthen its defence capabilities.
Speaking at a press conference, Ha said the two countries expect their collaboration to expand significantly in the coming years. He noted that despite the complex geopolitical situation in the region, discussions between the two sides have continued. According to him, the UAE’s growing need to enhance its defence capabilities amid regional tensions could create additional opportunities for deeper technological cooperation.
Ha added that both nations have maintained engagement even in what he described as a “very difficult environment,” expressing confidence that the partnership could lead to multiple joint initiatives in the future.
The comments follow an agreement reached last year between South Korea and the UAE to cooperate on the U.S.-backed Stargate AI Data Center Project, a major initiative aimed at building a massive artificial intelligence data campus in the Gulf nation. The project is expected to host what could become the world’s largest cluster of AI data centres outside the United States.
The agreement was reached after a summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. As part of the collaboration, South Korea has pledged to support the development of computing infrastructure and energy systems required for the large-scale data centre complex.
South Korea also plans to help build a dedicated power grid for the Stargate project by combining nuclear energy, natural gas and renewable power sources. The partnership further includes plans to deepen cooperation in several areas of the AI ecosystem, including investments, infrastructure development, semiconductor supply chains and joint research initiatives.
The initiative aligns with South Korea’s broader ambition to position itself as a regional hub for artificial intelligence. The country is home to leading global chipmakers such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which play a critical role in supplying advanced memory chips used in AI systems.
The South Korean government has prioritised AI investments as part of its economic strategy, aiming to stimulate growth and technological leadership at a time when global trade uncertainties, including tariffs from the United States, have created challenges for the broader economic outlook.
