In the final part of this three part series, DET’s podcast host Mariem Dekhili interviews ORF Middle East Fellow, Mahdi Ghuloom, on the future of a EU-GCC FTA and how AI may be a vital backbone of any agreement.
DET Podcast Host, Mariem Dekhili (00:00): You mentioned that the GCC EU summit is very different from the trade deal.
Is AI integrated in this deal as well or not?
ORF Middle East Fellow, Mahdi Ghuloom: It’s not clear at the moment despite the area being one of the major points in the GCC-EU summit.
Yes, however it seemed to me that in the GCC-EU summit, that was one of the many files that were discussed.
EU-GCC Talks: Riyadh 2026
00:30: On top of the agreement, talks will restart between the EU and GCC next year in Riyadh for the EU-GCC Summit.
AI in Any Future EU-GCC FTA
However, when it comes specifically to the trade agreement, it’s not clear how important AI and emerging technologies will be.
1:28: I wouldn’t dismiss it, I would say it probably is quite important. The UAE is investing quite a lot in artificial intelligence. I think there was recently talks of an UAE backed firm funding a French AI firm, something in the millions or reaching a billion dollars.
That was one of the many files that were discussed on top of the agreement that talks will restart between the EU and GCC.
However, when it comes specifically to the trade agreement, it’s not clear how important AI and emerging technologies will be. I wouldn’t dismiss it. I would say it probably is quite important.
Thank you so much for this insightful conversation.
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