Supporting Matchmaking Between Local Institutions and Korean Companies
Leading the Region’s Largest Advanced Technology Events
Strengthening Digital Cooperation Between the Two Countries
KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency) is partnering with the Dubai Future Foundation to support Korean companies in entering the AI (artificial intelligence) and digital sectors.
On September 9 (local time), KOTRA announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the Dubai Future Foundation headquarters to expand the presence of Korean technology companies in the Middle East and to strengthen digital cooperation.
This MOU aligns with the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) top national priorities, including the "AI Strategy 2031" and "DUB.AI" (Dubai's AI Generalization Plan). KOTRA will support matchmaking between local project owners and Korean companies, thereby strengthening the foundation for Korean firms to participate in public projects.
The UAE has already established a future strategy fund (MGX) worth 10 billion dollars and is accelerating the expansion of AI infrastructure, including the construction of global data centers. In particular, the Dubai Future Foundation, which operates directly under Crown Prince Hamdan, serves as the control tower for future industries and leads the region’s largest advanced technology events, such as AI Week and GITEX (UAE Dubai Information and Communication Exhibition). Additionally, in cooperation with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), it is spearheading an urban air mobility (AAM) demonstration project targeting initial commercialization in 2026.
Targeting these opportunities, KOTRA has organized major initiatives such as one-on-one business meetings linked to exhibitions like GITEX, IR (investor relations) pitching conferences, and consultations with project owners including the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority. As a result, at "AI Week 2025" hosted by the Dubai Future Foundation in April this year, eight promising Korean companies, including Naver Cloud and Nota, received official invitations. Notably, Nota attracted attention by becoming the first startup to sign a contract with the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, a local government agency, to supply on-device generative AI solutions.
With this MOU, the two organizations plan to establish practical cooperation platforms, such as expanding joint programs during AI Week, building proof-of-concept (PoC) models linked to public procurement, and organizing investment briefings in connection with sovereign wealth funds. They will also actively support the participation of Korean companies specializing in batteries and vertiport infrastructure in the 2026 urban air mobility demonstration project.
Alia Al Mur, Chief Partnerships Officer (CPO) of the Dubai Future Foundation, said, "Korea is a model country for technology-intensive digital innovation. We look forward to seeing Korea’s outstanding technology companies participate in Dubai’s future vision across various fields, including smart cities, mobility, and healthcare."
Kang Kyungseong, President of KOTRA, stated, "Dubai is establishing itself not just as a technology hub for the Middle East, but as a global testbed for AI and digital industries. Through this agreement, we will create a springboard for our companies to directly participate in future projects in the Middle East and further accelerate AI and digital cooperation between Korea and the UAE."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
