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The U.S. and UAE back the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) to advance trade, investment, and smart infrastructure.
The US and UAE reaffirmed their commitment to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) in the areas of trade, investment, and smart infrastructure development during the eleventh U.S.-UAE Economic Policy Dialogue, which was held in Abu Dhabi on January 15. The leaders stated that improving regional connectivity and international trade was a top objective for the IMEC.
The dialogue, which was headed by UAE Minister of State Saeed Mubarak Al Hajeri and U.S Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg, focused on the development of port and rail infrastructure from India to Europe via the Middle East. The US and UAE reaffirmed the importance of open markets, easy rules, and joint investment in world-leading technology, critical minerals, energy, manufacturing, and life sciences. The UAE reiterated its commitment to investing $1.4 trillion in the US over the next decade, solidifying its stance as America’s largest regional economic partner. The two-way non-oil trade value surpassed $38 billion in 2024, and the preliminary figures for 2025 reached $19.3 billion in the first half, recording a year-over-year increase of 3.4%.
Al Hajeri stated, “Our economic partnership is a testament to the extent and potency of UAE-U.S. collaboration in strategic sectors such as aviation, technology, and energy.” Helberg further added, “Improving supply chains and investing in next-generation manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and digital infrastructure will help integrate economic growth with national security objectives.”
IMEC is a major step in global trade and investment in smart infrastructure, linking India, the Middle East, and Europe. The previous agreements have been on regional connectivity and technology sharing, and the corridor has been a major driver of economic resilience and global partnerships.
The U.S. and UAE are also expected to continue looking at areas of cooperation in the I2U2 framework, including energy security, critical minerals, and water security.
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