The United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are deepening discussions on cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence (AI), and technology investments, following a series of meetings between senior officials from both nations.
On March 20, UAE’s National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan revealed that he met with David Sacks, the White House crypto and AI czar, to discuss the expanding role of digital currencies and AI-driven investment opportunities.
Trump Hosts UAE’s Top Security Official
The discussions followed a March 18 White House dinner hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump, where he and senior officials met Tahnoon to explore UAE-U.S. partnerships in economic and technological advancements.
“We are increasing our partnership to advance our economic and technological futures,” Trump posted on Truth Social after the meeting.
Crypto, AI, and Investment on the Agenda
Although the specifics of these conversations remain undisclosed, reports indicate that:
- Technology and energy were key discussion points.
- The UAE is looking to expand its investment footprint in the U.S.
- Tahnoon aims to secure easier access to AI chips after the Biden administration’s 2023 export restrictions.
- The UAE is considering developing tech infrastructure on U.S. soil.
UAE Strengthens Ties with U.S. Tech and Financial Leaders
Tahnoon’s visit included meetings with:
- Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss trade and investment.
- White House cost-cutting czar Elon Musk via video call to talk about government systems.
- Top tech CEOs including Oracle’s Larry Ellison, BlackRock’s Larry Fink, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang to explore AI development opportunities.
UAE’s $7 Billion AI Investment in the U.S.
A major takeaway from these discussions is the UAE’s commitment to AI infrastructure development in the U.S.
Tahnoon chairs MGX, an investment firm that plans to contribute $7 billion to Stargate, a $500 billion private-led AI data center project in the U.S. The initiative aligns with Trump’s recent AI-focused economic strategy, unveiled shortly after returning to the White House.
UAE’s Expanding Crypto and AI Empire
Tahnoon controls a $1.5 trillion financial empire, which includes:
- Two UAE sovereign wealth funds
- First Abu Dhabi Bank, the country’s largest bank
- AI firm G42, a leading AI developer
- MGX’s recent $2 billion investment in Binance
With crypto and AI emerging as pivotal industries, these meetings underscore UAE’s intent to play a central role in the future of digital economies—potentially reshaping U.S.-UAE financial and technological partnerships.