Mayor Oh Se-hoon Visits UAE for Investment and Tourism 'Seoul Sales' Promotion

5 Nights 7 Days Visiting Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Seek Joint Development Plans
Discussing Expansion of Economic Cooperation Including MOU with Dubai Future Foundation
Supporting Middle East Entry of Seoul Advanced Industry Startups in AI and Bio
Visiting Complex Development 'Yas Island' to Plan Urban Development

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is set to embark on a business trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The visit aims to attend major international events representing the UAE, such as the 'Dubai Fintech Summit,' and will involve various discussions on joint development plans between Seoul and the UAE, including investment attraction and tourism promotion. In particular, Seoul plans to pursue highly effective economic exchanges through memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with UAE government-affiliated institutions.

On the 2nd, Seoul City announced that Mayor Oh has been invited as a keynote speaker at the UAE's 'Dubai Fintech Summit' and the 'Abu Dhabi Annual Investment Meeting in the Future Cities sector,' and will visit the UAE for 7 days and 5 nights starting from the 5th.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The 'Dubai Fintech Summit' has been held since last year under the patronage of Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Deputy Prime Minister. It is a forum where global financial experts and policymakers discuss ways to grow the international financial industry and expand the influence of fintech. Mayor Oh will also deliver a keynote speech titled 'Global Economic Innovation Hub - Seoul' at the Dubai Jumeirah Resort on the 6th local time during the summit.

An agreement with government-affiliated institutions is also scheduled. Mayor Oh will visit the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry to sign a mutual cooperation MOU between Invest Seoul and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce. This agreement is expected to strengthen economic cooperation between the Middle East and Seoul through ▲support for companies’ overseas expansion and investment attraction ▲opening of a Seoul office by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce.

He will also attend the Seoul tourism promotion event 'Seoul My Soul in Dubai,' held for 6 to 7 days at Dubai The Agenda. At the Seoul brand show, Mayor Oh plans to introduce Seoul’s tourist attractions and cuisine and personally conduct a prize draw to promote Seoul.

On the 7th, he will visit the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority to sign an MOU on establishing a mutual cooperation system focused on future mobility. Through this agreement, the two cities will ▲exchange policies on autonomous driving and urban air mobility (UAM) demonstration projects ▲promote future mobility for citizens, and collaborate to showcase Dubai’s innovative future mobility technologies at Seoul’s CES-style 'Smart Life Week (SLW)' scheduled for October this year.

Mayor Oh will also meet with large corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises, and startup entrepreneurs operating locally. This meeting aims to listen to the difficulties faced by local companies and explore ways to revitalize Seoul’s strategic industries. Currently, 171 companies in sectors such as construction, finance, retail, and services have entered the UAE market, and exchanges with the UAE have been steadily increasing since 2019.

An MOU signing between Seoul City and the Dubai Future Foundation is also planned. This meeting is expected to discuss detailed cooperation plans such as promoting mutual exchanges between Seoul startups and Dubai startups. The Dubai Future Foundation, established by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, plans and executes Dubai’s core future projects.

After moving to Abu Dhabi, Mayor Oh will deliver a keynote speech at the 'Abu Dhabi Annual Investment Meeting.' Under the theme 'Seoul City Strategy for a Better Future City,' he will present future transportation policies reflecting Seoul’s governance philosophy of 'accompanying the vulnerable.' Seoul and Abu Dhabi will also sign a friendship agreement. The two cities have agreed to establish cooperation and exchange systems in various fields such as transportation, smart cities, and urban development. This friendship agreement was initiated by the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport in 2023 and marks the fourth among Middle Eastern countries and the first among UAE cities.

A ceremony for cultural and urban planning cooperation agreements is also arranged. An MOU will be signed with the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation to expand cultural exchanges between the two cities. Seoul expects this opportunity to facilitate ▲exchange exhibitions between museums and art galleries ▲exchange and collaboration among artists ▲mutual invitation performances between Seoul’s art groups and UAE art organizations, thereby broadly promoting Korean and Middle Eastern cultures.

Additionally, Mayor Oh plans to visit 'Yas Island,' a mixed-use development complex, to explore the possibility of creating a cultural complex facility in the Sangam area of Seoul. Visits are also scheduled to 'Saadiyat Cultural District,' which Abu Dhabi is promoting to diversify its economy and boost cultural and tourism industries, and 'Masdar City,' a carbon-neutral smart city. A Seoul City official stated, "Through this visit to the UAE, various cooperation foundations will be established not only in economics but also in culture between Seoul and leading Middle Eastern cities. Based on this, Seoul’s urban competitiveness will be further strengthened on the global stage."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.