Abu Dhabi delegation deepens commercial ties with Republic of Korea through major investment and technology accords
A high-level Abu Dhabi delegation led by His Excellency Shamis Ali Khalfan Al Dhaheri concluded a Seoul visit that produced multiple agreements and targeted commercial partnerships across AI, finance, healthcare, energy and advanced manufacturing.
Delegation and purpose
A high-level economic delegation from Abu Dhabi has completed a visit to the Republic of Korea that delivered a sequence of agreements, investment discussions and direct business engagements designed to convert bilateral dialogue into tangible commercial outcomes. The delegation was led by His Excellency Shamis Ali Khalfan Al Dhaheri, Chairman of the Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi, and Second Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Chamber (ADCCI).
The group comprised representatives from 88 public- and private-sector entities and its programme convened more than 400 government officials, investors, business leaders and institutional representatives from Abu Dhabi and the Republic of Korea. Participants included the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), ADGM, ADIO, General Administration of Abu Dhabi Customs, Hub71, Abu Dhabi Police, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, KEZAD Group, Emirates Global Aluminium, Etihad Airways, Masdar City, Core42 and Al Liwan, alongside other leading institutions and companies from the emirate.
Forums that framed the visit
The delegation’s activities centred on two principal events. Abu Dhabi Investment Forum (ADIF) Seoul, led by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) in partnership with ADGM, showcased Abu Dhabi’s investment proposition to Korean investors. Complementing this, the Seoul–Abu Dhabi Business Matchmaking Forum, organised by Abu Dhabi Chamber with the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), facilitated direct B2B engagement and commercial partnerships.
Mr Al Dhaheri framed the visit’s strategic intent: “This visit reflects Abu Dhabi’s clear direction to expand its economic partnerships with influential global markets. The Republic of Korea is among our foremost partners, given its leadership in industry, technology and innovation. Abu Dhabi, in turn, offers a competitive business environment, advanced infrastructure and an integrated investment ecosystem that enables Korean companies to expand and access markets across the region and beyond.
“The agreements and business meetings held during the visit have established practical avenues for cooperation across several priority sectors. The next phase will focus on developing these opportunities into long-term investments, projects and partnerships through collaboration between the business ecosystems of Abu Dhabi and the Republic of Korea, creating sustainable economic value for both.”
Deals and strategic partnerships
ADIF Seoul produced three ADIO agreements spanning investment, financial innovation, gaming and advanced technology, together with additional strategic partnerships announced at the forum. ADIO signed with Hashed, a global venture firm, to strengthen engagement with Korean companies, financial institutions and investors, providing market intelligence and connections across Abu Dhabi’s investment ecosystem.
ADIO’s agreement with Hanwha Life will explore cooperation across digital finance, financial innovation and capital market connectivity, including potential opportunities related to digital assets and the tokenisation of real-world assets. With Kakao Games, ADIO will explore pathways for the company’s expansion from Abu Dhabi into regional and international markets, including publishing, localisation and live operations linked to Abu Dhabi’s gaming, creative and technology ecosystem.
Separately, Presight signed agreements to deepen its technology partnerships in Korea: a collaboration with the Gyeonggido Business & Science Accelerator (GBSA) to support startup deal flow and cross-border acceleration, and a strategic agreement with Dtonic Corporation to explore smart cities and AI-driven data infrastructure. An MoU between Further Asset Management and Four Pillars sets out joint work to advance institutional blockchain adoption and to develop compliant, chain-agnostic digital asset infrastructure.
In the financial arena, ADGM and Hanwha Finance renewed their partnership for Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2026. ADGM also signed an agreement with Hanwha Asset Management and Hana Financial Group to explore stablecoins, digital-asset infrastructure and cross-border payment and remittance solutions between Abu Dhabi and the Republic of Korea.
Commercial matchmaking and sectoral outcomes
The Abu Dhabi Chamber’s Business Matchmaking Forum convened representatives of 55 companies from Abu Dhabi and South Korea, generating direct meetings across healthcare, artificial intelligence, food and beverage, industrial zones, robotics and financial technology. A highlighted outcome was a strategic cooperation agreement between Emirates Hospitals Group and Jaseng Medical Academy covering non-surgical spine and joint care in Abu Dhabi and the exchange of medical knowledge and expertise.
These concrete agreements and partnerships arrive against a backdrop of rising Korean business activity in the emirate: the number of Korean companies registered as members of Abu Dhabi Chamber increased by 5.9 per cent in 2025 compared with 2024, while member companies with Korean partners grew by 9.2 per cent. The visit establishes a firmer foundation for the next stage of Abu Dhabi–Korea economic cooperation, with a focus on advancing investment, connecting complementary capabilities and developing long-term partnerships that create sustainable value for both markets.