UNJournal Jon Lee |  On January 15, two men— President Lee Jae-myung and Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Abu Dhabi's Executive Affairs Authority—shook hands in the reception room of Cheong Wa Dae. Held before a wall covered with traditional symbols for longevity emblazoned in gold, their meeting reaffirmed a “century-long companionship,” one that began around 16 years earlier when a delegation led by Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) won a contract to build a nuclear power plant complex in Barakah, UAE, in 2009.

 

 

Chairman Khaldoon’s smile in the photograph is genuine; he considers Korea his “second home." As the UAE's special envoy to Korea, he has served as both a witness to and the architect of Korea-UAE cooperation since his appointment 17 years prior.

 

In December 2009, KEPCO stunned the world by beating out nuclear energy power houses from France and elsewhere to win the UAE Barakah nuclear plant construction contract. This $18.6 billion mega-project was only the beginning. Constructing four Korean APR1400 reactors 280 kilometers west of Abu Dhabi in brutal desert conditions exceeding 50 degrees Celsius was never going to be easy, but “Team Korea” kept its promise—on time, within budget.

 

Since September 2024, when the last reactor ordered, Unit 4, entered commercial operation, Barakah has been able to supply 25% of the UAE's total electricity demand. Beyond a source of energy, Barakah has become a key part of the UAE's 2050 carbon neutrality goals and a potent symbol of the UAE's trust in Korea.

 

A close confidant of UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman Khaldoon also chairs both the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) board and Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority. He is also the former CEO of Mubadala Development Company—a key figure in UAE economic policy.

 

Chairman Khaldoon has built deep bonds through successive Korean administrations, most notably with Moon Jae-in’s former Chief of Staff Lim Jong-seok and President Lee’s current Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik. Visiting Seoul in 2018, he said, "The nuclear contract with Korea was an excellent decision. I hope Korean participation in the UAE will expand further beyond nuclear power to fields like healthcare."

 

During this January 2026 visit, Chairman Khaldoon conveyed President Mohamed's regards while reaffirming the depth of bilateral relations. He has become not just a diplomat, but a “guarantee” and “symbol of trust” in Korea-UAE relations.

 

President Lee Jae-myung's November 2025 state visit to the UAE marked a new turning point. The two nations sketched a far broader framework of cooperation in five fields beyond nuclear power:

 

Artificial Intelligence (AI): Stargate Project participation, joint AI port logistics projects

 

Defense & Defense Industry: Joint weapons development, local production, third-country joint exports

 

Energy: Renewable energy, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage technology cooperation

 

Healthcare: Establishment of K-Medical complex clusters in UAE, creation of advanced medical support centers

 

Culture: Construction of “UAE K-City,” a forward base for K-Culture

 

This cooperation, expected to generate $35 billion in economic effects, demonstrates that the two nations are evolving beyond a simple transactional relationship into “special strategic partners” as mutually planned in 2018.

 

"Korea and the UAE have agreed to create a century-long companionship," President Lee declared at the recent meeting. The UAE is Korea’s gateway to the Middle East and a key player in global energy markets. Beyond oil and gas, it represents future markets with massive investments in clean energy, AI, and cutting-edge technology as well as a reliable partner for joint ventures in third countries.

 

For the UAE, Korea is a nation that keeps its promises—a trustworthy partner possessing world-class construction, IT, defense, and medical technology. Above all, Korea is a friend helping the UAE realize its national vision: “UAE Vision 2071.”

 

Korea's Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik and the UAE's Chairman Khaldoon maintain constant communication channels and a structure for rapidly implementing bilateral cooperation—the embodiment of the “dedicated personnel system” emphasized during Chairman Khaldoon's visit.

 

In July 2024, Korea won a $17.3 billion nuclear power contract from Czechia (the Czech Republic)—Korea’s first major nuclear plant construction deal since Barakah in 2009. The Czech government deemed Korea's bid “superior across all evaluation criteria," but “Barakah's success” was also stated as a key factor.

 

Without Barakah, there would have been no Czech contract. This is compound interest accrued from trust. One success creates the next opportunity, and that opportunity leads to another success. The trust that began with nuclear power is now expanding across AI, defense, healthcare, and energy. And at the center of it all is Chairman Khaldoon.

 

 

Chairman Khaldoon's January 2026 visit marked the beginning of practical consultations to implement agreements reached at the November 2025 summit. The "concrete and visible results" President Lee emphasized will materialize this year. More importantly, the two nations will further implement their blueprint for the next century in a concrete manner during UAE President Mohamed's coming state visit to Korea.

 

The Barakah project that began in the desert in 2009 is now extending worldwide. Beyond Czechia, European markets including the UK, Poland, and the Netherlands are opening. And at the center of all these opportunities lies the trust Korea has built together with the UAE.

 

The handshake on January 15 before those golden symbols of longevity confirmed 16 years of trust and represented a pledge: Korea and the UAE will share 100 years of companionship during a special journey that has only just begun. (edited by David Kendall)