On Monday, September 23, 2024, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan made his first official trip to Washington as head of state, where President Joe Biden welcomed him at the White House. The meeting was historic: it was the first time a UAE president and a US president had met on American soil since the UAE was founded in 1971.
A Milestone in UAE-US Diplomatic History
When the UAE was established in 1971, the United States was among the first countries to recognise the new federation and open diplomatic ties. In the decades since, Sheikh Mohamed has met with several former US presidents, and he and Biden had a brief exchange on the sidelines of the 2023 G20 Summit. But this September 2024 visit carried far greater weight — a full bilateral meeting reflecting how deeply the relationship between the two countries has evolved amid shifting global and regional dynamics.
The visit also included a separate meeting between Sheikh Mohamed and Vice-President Kamala Harris, underscoring the breadth of engagement at the highest levels of the US government.
What the Two Leaders Discussed
The Sheikh Mohamed Biden White House meeting covered a wide range of strategic priorities:
- Middle East security — Both leaders called for urgent and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza and supported efforts toward a ceasefire and hostage release deal. - Sudan — The crisis in Sudan was also on the agenda. - Artificial intelligence — The two countries reached an agreement on AI and related technologies, recognising their potential to accelerate economic growth, transform healthcare and education, and drive environmental sustainability. - Trade and investment — Bilateral trade between the UAE and the US already exceeds $30 billion annually, and the two sides discussed ways to deepen economic ties further. - Space and renewable energy — Cooperation in advanced technology, space exploration, and clean energy featured prominently in talks.
UAE Designated a Major US Defence Partner
One of the most significant outcomes of the visit was President Biden's formal designation of the UAE as a major defence partner of the United States — a status shared only with India. The designation enables closer military cooperation through joint training, exercises, and other collaborative efforts. It reflects the strategic importance of the UAE, which already hosts US military personnel at Al Dhafra Air Base.
Balancing a Complex Relationship
The UAE and the US maintain strong bilateral relations across security, economic, and diplomatic spheres, but the two countries have not always agreed on every major strategic question, particularly regarding Middle East policy. The UAE occupies a unique regional position — a country deeply connected to Western partners through trade and culture while also navigating its own priorities in the Arab world.
This Washington visit signalled that both sides are committed to strengthening the partnership and broadening cooperation into new areas, from AI governance to clean energy, as global dynamics continue to shift.
