UAE at the G20 Summit: A Partnership for Growth and Prosperity

Responding to an invitation from His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the friendly Republic of South Africa, the United Arab Emirates is participating in the G20 Summit, held in Johannesburg on November 22 and 23.

On behalf of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, is heading the UAE delegation to the summit. The gathering reflects the economic and political weight of a group that includes 19 countries from all continents, in addition to the European Union and the African Union.

The UAE’s invitation to participate as a guest in the G20 Summit is the sixth of its kind. The UAE previously took part in the summits held in France in 2011, Saudi Arabia in 2020, Indonesia in 2022, India in 2023, and Brazil in 2024.

The 20th edition of the G20 Summit is being held under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability”, and will address global issues including promoting economic growth, supporting a just transition in the energy sector, accelerating progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and exploring pathways to enhance international cooperation in confronting climate and health challenges. It also focuses on supporting innovation and economic partnerships to help build a more stable and prosperous future for all.

The UAE’s participation in the G20 Summit reinforces its global role as a nation that anticipates the future and keeps pace with major transformations in the fields of energy, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and the circular economy. The UAE joins the G20 Summit less than a month after participating in the APEC Summit in the Republic of Korea.

This participation also strengthens the UAE’s established approach of building bridges of communication with global economic powers and major forums such as the G7, BRICS and APEC.

The UAE arrives at the summit with a solid record of successful steps in concluding comprehensive economic partnerships and cooperating with major global institutions in the fields of artificial intelligence and energy, all within a clear economic diplomacy that enhances multilateral international cooperation, stimulates growth, and simultaneously addresses current challenges in energy security and advanced technologies.

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, is leading the UAE delegation to the G20 with substantial experience in planning sustainable, future-oriented economic development aligned with the theme of the Johannesburg Summit. His development efforts combine local goals with global perspectives, as seen in initiatives such as Abu Dhabi Business Week and Abu Dhabi Finance Week. The Crown Prince contributes to building promising partnerships between the UAE and technology companies, and has conducted visits to rising economic powers in East and Southeast Asia, such as Japan, Malaysia, and India, to strengthen development partnerships and expand the UAE’s global engagement for a better future. He is well aware of the close link between energy and technology in the era of artificial intelligence; earlier this month, he met with leaders from the energy, AI, advanced technology, sustainability, and investment sectors as part of the ENACT Council held at the Abu Dhabi Energy Centre under the theme “Energy and AI: Expanding Horizons for Global Growth.”

The UAE’s participation in the summit, headed by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, reaffirms the G20’s confidence in the Emirati development model. The G20 — whose members account for 85% of global economic output, 75% of global trade, and 66% of the world’s population — is keen to strengthen its engagement with the UAE, a nation shaping the future of the Middle East and partnering with major global powers on pathways of growth and prosperity.

* Dr. Hamad Al Kaabi, Chief Aletihad News Center Officer.

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.