Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with BYD Co. Chairman Wang Chuanfu on Tuesday, signaling the Gulf emirate’s ambition to become a hub for advanced electric vehicle manufacturing as part of its broader industrial and climate strategy.

The meeting, held during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, focused on opportunities to collaborate in electric and hybrid vehicle production and develop an advanced industrial ecosystem. The discussions align with the United Arab Emirates’ push to attract leading global companies into priority economic sectors and boost national competitiveness.

The talks also explored pathways to support sustainable development and accelerate the transition to a mobility system based on alternative energy solutions. This effort supports the UAE’s commitment to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 and reinforces its regional and international leadership in balancing environmental and economic needs.

The high-level engagement underscores Abu Dhabi’s strategic intent to position itself at the center of the global energy transition, leveraging partnerships with industry leaders like BYD, which surpassed Tesla Inc. last year as the world’s top seller of electric vehicles. Senior officials from the UAE’s industry, energy and executive offices attended the meeting.Editor/Cao Tianyi