White House Crypto & AI Czar Meets UAE Officials to Discuss Tech, Investment Plans

The White House AI & Crypto Czar David Sacks recently met with top officials from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to explore deeper ties in emerging technologies and investment opportunities between the two nations.

The meeting included high-level discussions with Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s national security adviser and brother of the country’s president.

In a March 20 post on X, Sheikh Tahnoon revealed that he and Sacks discussed the growing influence of AI, the evolving role of digital currencies, and new investment prospects arising from their intersection.

Trump Hosts Private White House Dinner as Part of Broader Tech Diplomacy Talks

The talks were part of a broader diplomatic initiative that included a private dinner hosted by former President Donald Trump at the White House on March 18.

Trump later shared on Truth Social that he and senior U.S. officials met with Tahnoon to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation in economic and technological arenas.

While the specifics of the meetings were not publicly disclosed, sources cited by Bloomberg said the UAE delegation aimed to explore greater access to U.S. technology, particularly semiconductors, following U.S. export restrictions imposed in 2023.

Tahnoon also expressed interest in building tech infrastructure within the U.S., reinforcing the UAE’s long-term commitment to its American partnerships.

I explored with @davidsacks47 , the Special Advisor on AI and Crypto, the transformative effects of artificial intelligence across various sectors, the expanding role of digital currencies in reshaping financial systems, and the investment opportunities emerging at their… pic.twitter.com/BXz5ZTl5FV

— Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (@hhtbzayed) March 20, 2025

Tahnoon, who chairs the UAE-based investment firm MGX, is reportedly preparing a $7 billion investment into “Stargate,” a $500 billion private-led project announced by Trump to construct AI data centers across the United States.

This follows MGX’s $2 billion investment in Binance earlier this month.

During his U.S. visit, Tahnoon also met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and spoke with tech leaders including Oracle’s Larry Ellison, BlackRock’s Larry Fink, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang.

He even held a video call with Elon Musk, discussing ways to modernize government systems.

With control over a $1.5 trillion financial empire, Tahnoon’s engagements signal a potential surge in UAE-led investment and collaboration in U.S.-based digital innovation.

UAE Tops “Most Crypto-Obsessed Countries” List in 2025

A new study shows that the UAE has ranked first among the world’s “most crypto-obsessed countries” in 2025, having an exceptional crypto adoption growth at 210%.

The UAE has scored 98.4%, with the highest crypto ownership rate at 25.3%.

As reported, the UAE is poised to become a key destination for crypto and stablecoin ventures seeking refuge from the EU’s newly implemented Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation.

The regulatory framework, which took full effect on December 30, is creating significant challenges for crypto firms within the 27-member bloc, prompting many to consider relocating, according to industry experts.

Experts said that the UAE’s proactive positioning as a crypto hub, combined with its clarity on policies, makes it a compelling choice for companies looking to maintain global operations.