Abu Dhabi's big week: AI deals, health milestone and peace talks

Abu Dhabi has marked a series of significant developments this week, from signing landmark agreements on artificial intelligence with OpenAI to reporting strong results from a public health initiative, and confirming that it will host the next round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks. The announcements highlight the emirate’s growing role as a hub for technology, wellbeing and international diplomacy.

On the technology front, a meeting between Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman led to multiple milestone deals. Adnoc, the UAE’s state energy company, signed an agreement with OpenAI and Abu Dhabi AI firm G42 to integrate OpenAI’s Frontier technology across its operations, becoming the first energy company to do so. A separate Machine-Readable Government initiative will translate policies and regulations into formats that AI systems can interpret, helping officials with routine compliance checks while keeping human oversight and accountability for final decisions.

In health news, more than 6,500 people have lost weight under a government-backed programme in Abu Dhabi. Participants with obesity lost an average of 14 per cent of their body weight in the first year, with some shedding up to 22 per cent. The initiative, supported by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, offers injectable or oral weight-loss medications alongside personalised care plans, and is available to Thiqa cardholders aged 18 and over.

Abu Dhabi will also host the next round of talks aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict, US envoy Steve Witkoff said. Working-level negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow are expected next week, focusing on post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts and next steps toward peace. The meetings follow earlier rounds in Kyiv, Oslo and St Petersburg.