Abu Dhabi and Singapore Forge Expanded Partnership Through Investment and Industrial Cooperation
The 17th Abu Dhabi–Singapore Joint Forum has yielded a suite of strategic agreements spanning investment, government capacity-building and industrial development, reinforcing the two nations' longstanding economic ties and opening new avenues for collaboration across emerging sectors.
The 17th session of the Abu Dhabi–Singapore Joint Forum was held in Singapore, co-chaired by His Excellency Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority, and His Excellency Dr Tan See Leng, Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry). The gathering underscored the resilience and depth of bilateral relations between the UAE and Singapore, particularly as economic engagement continues to deepen across multiple strategic domains.
Strengthening Economic Foundations
The UAE remains Singapore’s largest trading partner in the Middle East, with total non-oil trade reaching US$6.54 billion in 2025. This substantial volume reflects the maturity and significance of the commercial relationship between the two nations. During the forum, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation across investment and economic matters, energy, artificial intelligence, space, capacity building and healthcare.
His Excellency Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak commented: “The Abu Dhabi–Singapore Joint Forum continues to serve as an important platform for advancing the longstanding partnership between the UAE and Singapore. This year’s agreements in investment, government capacity-building and industrial development reflect our shared commitment to creating new opportunities for cooperation and advancing our engagement across strategic sectors.”
Investment and Trade Frameworks
A landmark agreement signed by the UAE Ministry of Investment and Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry establishes a three-year framework to promote investment, facilitate knowledge exchange, advance joint opportunities, strengthen institutional collaboration, and support capacity-building initiatives. The agreement was signed by His Excellency Mohammad Alhawi, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Investment, and Augustin Lee, Permanent Secretary (Energy and Trade) at Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Dr Tan See Leng noted: “Singapore and Abu Dhabi share a longstanding and resilient partnership. Our companies continue to find new business opportunities to collaborate in the UAE. The ADSJF provides a valuable platform for us to exchange views on areas of mutual interest, especially in emerging sectors such as AI, the digital economy, and urban infrastructure.”
Government Capacity and Industrial Development
A renewed agreement between the Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi and Singapore’s Civil Service College strengthens cooperation in government leadership, capability development, executive education and governance. The partnership will advance knowledge exchange, specialised training programmes, study visits and joint research to build more future-ready government capabilities. Her Excellency Mariam Al Musharrekh, Director General of Government Talent at the Department of Government Enablement, and Han Neng Hsiu, Dean and CEO of Singapore’s Civil Service College, signed the accord.
KEZAD Group, the Singapore Business Federation and the Singapore Manufacturing Federation signed a Letter of Intent to develop an industrial corridor between Singapore and Abu Dhabi. The collaboration aims to support stronger trade links, industrial investment and market access, whilst enabling Singapore companies to explore growth opportunities in Abu Dhabi and regional and global markets. The initiative was signed by Abdullah Al Hameli, CEO of Economic Cities and Free Zones at AD Ports Group; Shamsher Zaman, Chairman of the Middle East Business Group at Singapore Business Federation; and Wayne Yap, Group CEO at Singapore Manufacturing Federation.
Sustainability and Industrial Innovation
KEZAD Group and Witthal Gulf Industries signed an agreement establishing a framework for cooperation to explore the development of a sustainability hub within KEZAD. The initiative aims to support sustainable industrial activities, encourage the adoption of clean technologies, and attract companies seeking more efficient and sustainable solutions across manufacturing, logistics and related activities. The agreement was signed by Abdullah Al Hameli and Thirumurthi Naidu Nalappa, Director of Project Development at Singapore Witthal Gulf Industries.
The forum was attended by His Excellency Dr Abdulnasser AlShaali, UAE Ambassador to Singapore, and His Excellency Kamal R. Vaswani, Ambassador of Singapore to the UAE, alongside senior officials and representatives from key government and private entities from both nations. The Abu Dhabi–Singapore Joint Forum, established in 2007, reflects more than four decades of productive bilateral engagement underpinned by active trade, investment links, people-to-people ties and strategic cooperation across diverse fields.
Source: Abu Dhabi Media Office