UAE to host US Secretary of Energy in first overseas mission

The UAE will host US Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, on his first international trip since taking office.

His visit to Abu Dhabi marks the start of a regional tour across the Middle East.

Wright's visit follows a successful trip by a UAE delegation to Washington, D.C., in March, where both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ties in energy, infrastructure, manufacturing and artificial intelligence.

During his stay, Wright will meet with key UAE leaders, including Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy, and Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, to discuss expanding cooperation in energy innovation and sustainable economic growth.

The US official will also hold talks with Mohamed Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment, Managing Director and CEO of ADQ; 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.

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber highlighted the strong UAE-US partnership, emphasising shared goals in energy security, economic progress, and technological advancement.

The visit will also focus on deepening collaboration in AI, energy, and infrastructure.

Wright will meet with industry leaders in energy and AI, including senior executives from ADNOC, Masdar, Mubadala, IHC, AIQ, ENEC, MGX and Presight to explore opportunities for technological collaboration and joint investment initiatives.

In addition, Wright and Dr. Sultan Al Jaber will co-host a Future Energy Leaders Majlis, bringing together Emirati and American youth leaders – including alumni from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of California, Berkeley, and other institutions – alongside representatives from the US Department of Energy and the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.

The event will highlight the two nations’ shared commitment to developing next-generation talent to lead the global energy transformation.

"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," said Wright.

"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," he added.