Science ministry says seven MOUs signed with Abu Dhabi on digital tech

The science ministry said Wednesday it signed seven memorandums of understanding with Abu Dhabi government agencies to expand investment and industrial cooperation in digital and advanced technology fields. Ryu Je-myung, the ministry's second vice minister, announced the agreements at the Abu Dhabi Investment Forum Seoul 2026 held at the JW Marriott Hotel on Sept. 16.

The deals include a digital asset cooperation pact between Abu Dhabi Global Market and Hanwha Life Insurance, as well as a game and content agreement linking the Abu Dhabi Investment Office with Kakao Games.

Ryu emphasized during his address that cooperation in the AI era must extend beyond simple technology exchange to include joint investment, development and global market expansion. "In the AI era, it is important to cooperate by investing and developing together and expanding the results to the global market, rather than simply exchanging technologies," Ryu said. He pledged to actively support Korean companies and research institutions in connecting their technical capabilities with the UAE's investment capacity and global networks to create tangible results.

Organized by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, the event gathered officials from Abu Dhabi government bodies and key enterprises from both nations. This year marked the forum's first hosting in South Korea.