Ecuador and UAE sign artificial intelligence cooperation agreement
On Monday, August 3, 2026, Ecuador received in Quito Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications of the United Arab Emirates. The visit, held at the Palace of Najas, marks a milestone in bilateral technology cooperation.
Visit context
Al Olama met with Chancellor Roberto Kury and President Daniel Noboa to review progress in the joint agenda and identify new opportunities. This visit comes in a context of growing rapprochement between both countries:
- In March 2026, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi visited Ecuador and signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
- The CEPA facilitates preferential access for 98% of Ecuadorian products to the Emirati market, with immediate zero tariff for 75%.
- Ecuadorian exports to the UAE could reach USD 1 billion annually by 2030.
AI cooperation: what it means for Ecuador
The United Arab Emirates are one of the most advanced countries in artificial intelligence adoption worldwide. Their Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 has positioned Dubai and Abu Dhabi as global tech hubs.
For Ecuador, this cooperation opens opportunities in:
- AI training: access to Emirati training and certification programs.
- Infrastructure investment: funds for data centers, 5G networks and innovation centers.
- Technology transfer: AI tools and platforms for the public sector.
- Smart cities: pilot projects with Emirati technology.
Ecuador's role in the region
Ecuador is positioning itself as an AI reference in Latin America. In March 2026 it presented its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, and with this Emirati cooperation it could accelerate implementation.
How SimCodec addresses this reality
At SimCodec we are monitoring these partnerships because they directly affect our daily operations:
- Team training: we are in contact with AI training programs to stay at the forefront.
- Emirati tools: we evaluate AI platforms from the UAE that could complement our solutions.
- Pilot projects: we are ready to implement AI solutions in Ecuadorian companies that take advantage of this cooperation.
Al Olama's visit is not just diplomacy: it's an open door for Ecuadorian companies to access world-class technology.
