Abu Dhabi Crown Prince meets President of Microsoft

His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, met with the Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, Brad Smith, on the sidelines of the ENACT Majlis. 

The meeting at Abu Dhabi Energy Centre discussed ways to capitalise on opportunities for strategic partnerships between companies, institutions, and entities working in the AI, energy, and climate sectors.

The meeting also highlighted the ongoing strategic cooperation between ADNOC, Masdar, G42, and Microsoft to leverage advanced AI technologies and solutions, aiming to meet the requirements of rapid global developments, drive change in the global energy sector, and employ low-carbon energy solutions to power the essential infrastructure supporting the AI ecosystem.

The meeting also discussed ways to further utilise Microsoft's expertise in advanced technology and artificial intelligence to support the UAE and Abu Dhabi’s ambitions in clean energy transition, focusing on fostering the growth of the AI ecosystem across various sectors and key industries.

The meeting explored the strategic collaboration between Microsoft, ADNOC, and Masdar, which aims to identify ways to power Microsoft’s data centres with renewable energy, aligning with global efforts towards sustainability and carbon reduction, reflecting the commitment of the three entities to advancing clean energy sources, to contribute to the UAE and Abu Dhabi’s leadership in green technology and sustainable energy solutions.

The meeting also highlighted the advantages that the UAE and Abu Dhabi provide, including an integrated business infrastructure, advanced legislative frameworks, and competitive incentives for businesses and investors, positioning both the country and emirate as leading destinations for the growth of international companies across various sectors.

The meeting followed the release on October 31 of a joint report by ADNOC, Masdar, and Microsoft, Powering Possible: AI and Energy for a Sustainable Future. The report explored AI’s role in optimising energy efficiency, managing complex systems, reducing emissions, and supporting a net-zero future while addressing the growing energy demands of AI technology.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO; Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi; and Saif Saeed Ghobash, Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.