White House Senior Advisor for AI and crypto David Sacks met the National Security Advisor of UAE, His Highness Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in AI innovation and blockchain technologies.
President Donald Trump’s crypto and AI czar, David Sacks, said he spoke with Senior UAE official Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan about the increased partnership in AI innovation and use of crypto. Sheikh Tahnoun claimed that their discussion reflected the ongoing momentum in UAE-U.S. economic relations, where collaboration in advanced technologies served as a cornerstone for building a smart, sustainable digital future that met the aspirations of future generations.
The engagement was part of broader efforts by both countries to lead in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where AI, crypto, and digital assets played an important role in shaping diplomatic exchanges. The U.S. and the UAE recognize the need for global alliances to set up governance frameworks and digital infrastructure.
Sacks says effective AI diplomacy is vital now more than ever
I discussed with @davidsacks47, White House Senior Advisor for AI and Crypto, ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in AI innovation.
Our discussion reflects the ongoing momentum in UAE-U.S. economic relations, where collaboration in advanced technologies serves as a… pic.twitter.com/lt2NUVInGR— Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (@hhtbzayed) May 11, 2025
Sacks described the interaction with Sheikh Tahnoun as meaningful, saying that the two discussed their nations’ AI plans and opportunities in a spirit of mutual cooperation and respect. He also noted that the country that built its partner ecosystem the fastest was the one that would win this high-stakes competition, adding that effective AI diplomacy was “vital now more than ever.”
According to Sacks, U.S. companies still had the best technology, but they were “no longer the only game in town,” pointing out that it was well understood that China was catching up fast. Sacks was promoting a strong blockchain regulatory framework in the U.S. to manage AI & crypto development. His work objectives were to make blockchain transactions more transparent and reliable, ensuring a long-term base for digital currency.
“The country that builds its partner ecosystem the fastest is the one that will win this high-stakes competition. Effective AI diplomacy is vital now more than ever.”
–David Sacks, Trump’s Senior Advisor for AI and crypto
For Sacks, the meeting built on his ongoing efforts to reshape the U.S. blockchain and crypto market policies. He cited VP Vance’s recent Paris speech, where the VP explained that the U.S. needed to make itself the partner of choice for its friends and allies—otherwise, others would fill that gap.
Sheikh Tahnoun aims to enhance UAE-U.S. technological cooperation
Sheikh Tahnoun noted that his discussion with Sacks focused on AI’s growing role across industries and the growing significance of digital assets within global financial structures. The two sides agreed that the frameworks for collaboration in these emerging tech sectors were becoming increasingly central to the U.S. and UAE strategies.
Sheikh Tahnoun said both he and Sacks explored the transformative effects of AI across various sectors, the expanding role of digital currencies in reshaping financial systems, and the “investment opportunities emerging at their convergence.” He added that encouraging collaboration and adopting forward-looking strategies remained “essential pillars for driving sustainable growth and achieving long-term impact.”
Sheikh Tahnoon previously expressed interest in building tech infrastructure within the U.S., reinforcing the UAE’s long-term commitment to its American partnerships. In March, the MGX boss also revealed that his firm was backing a $7 billion investment in a private-led project called “Stargate,” aiming to develop AI data centers across the United States.
Multiple posts on Sheikh Tahnoun’s X account in March also showed that the UAE’s national security adviser had so far held meetings with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss trade and investment between the two nations.
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