UAE Ambassador Obstructs Meetings Between Emirati AI Firm and US Congressional Staffers
The United Arab Emirates blocked meetings between Emirati AI firm G42 and United States congressional staffers earlier this month after the US raised concerns about potential illicit technology transfers to China, a congressional spokesperson said Monday.
The spokesperson detailed how the UAE’s ambassador to the US, Yousef Al Otaiba, “personally intervened” to stop the meeting between US staffers with the House Select Committee on China and high-level G42 employees and Emirati government officials during a regional visit from July 16–19.
The spokesperson, who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity due to internal rules, explained that the fears revolve around Microsoft’s recent $1.5 billion investment in G42, a company with established connections to China.
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The July trip centered on the potential transfer of complex semiconductor chips to the Gulf, specifically the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Prior to the visit, committee chairman John Moolenaar penned a letter to the US national security advisor about the necessity of a broader intelligence report on the deal, given the chip’s sophisticated AI capabilities.
The Biden Administration has so far defended the G42 deal, which forced the firm to break ties with Chinese tech giant Huawei.
The UAE embassy contends that they were not made aware of the US delegation’s trip until the last minute and stressed that Emirati officials had already met with the committee’s members and staff several times on the issue.
However, the committee spokesperson highlighted that the UAE’s refusal has led to “even more concerns” and highlighted the need for “Congress to get more involved in oversight of these negotiations.”
G42 has so far directed all comments to the UAE government.
