U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright concluded his first official international trip to the United Arab Emirates, reaffirming the strong and long-standing energy partnership between the two countries.
According to WAM, the two-day visit focused on strengthening energy cooperation and global energy security. Both nations emphasized the need to boost operational efficiency and adopt advanced technologies to provide cost-competitive energy amid ongoing market volatility.
Wright met with senior UAE officials and business leaders, including Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Group CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure.
Dr. Al Jaber said that the UAE and the US enjoy a longstanding strategic relationship underpinned by a shared commitment to ensuring energy security and prosperity.
"Secretary Chris Wright’s visit to the UAE has provided an important platform to deepen our ties and unlock new opportunities across multiple sectors, including the energy-AI nexus,” he said.
Dr. Al Jaber reiterated the UAE’s commitment to working with the US Administration to foster investment in the energy sector, drive socioeconomic development, and shape a more prosperous future for the world.
Wright expressed enthusiasm about the visit, particularly his time at ADNOC. “It was tremendous,” he said, describing ADNOC as a “high-technology, strong culture and high-performing energy business.”
He praised the company’s leadership in applying AI and modern technology to remain a cost-efficient and global energy leader.
Suhail Al Mazrouei welcomed Wright’s visit, calling it a timely step toward stronger energy cooperation.
“In the past two days, we dove into meaningful discussions that will take the UAE-U.S. ties to new heights on multiple fronts, including energy, infrastructure, trade, and investment,” he said.
“We are confident that the success of this visit has set the stage for even greater collaboration between our countries,” he added.
During his trip, Secretary Wright was hosted at ADNOC headquarters and toured key energy facilities. These included the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, which supplies about 25% of the UAE’s electricity and was built under the UAE-U.S. 123 Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement.
He also visited ADNOC’s Shah Gas Field, where U.S.-based Occidental is a key partner. The field produces more than 1.45 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.
Wright was also given a helicopter tour of the Al Dhafra Solar Photovoltaic Independent Power Producer (IPP) project, which underscored the importance of energy in promoting economic growth and global prosperity.
Talks between Wright and UAE officials explored new opportunities for collaboration, especially at the intersection of energy and artificial intelligence.
ADNOC’s international investment arm, XRG, is expected to play a major role in growing U.S.-UAE partnerships to meet the rising energy demands of AI technologies.
