Investopia Global–Alberta launched to strengthen UAE–Canada partnerships in new economy sectors, aviation, food security, and clean energy

With the participation of more than 150 business and senior government leaders, investors, and decision-makers from both sides

H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of Investopia, led the UAE delegation to Canada to participate in the latest edition of Investopia Global Talks, hosted by the Province of Alberta. The event was aimed at strengthening economic and investment partnerships and exploring collaboration opportunities in vital sectors including the new economy, clean energy, food security, artificial intelligence (AI), space, and advanced technologies in air transport and aviation, supporting sustainable economic growth and expanding UAE–Canada collaboration in future economy sectors.

H.E. Bin Touq reaffirmed that the UAE and Canada share strong and expanding economic relations, reinforced in recent years through high-level visits and bilateral engagements. These efforts reflect the mutual trust and shared aspirations of both leaderships to build on past achievements, enhance economic and investment cooperation, and forge impactful partnerships. They further underscore the pivotal role of both the government and private sectors in advancing sustainable growth and fostering economic innovation in the two countries.

H.E. further highlighted that the selection of Alberta to hold the first edition of Investopia Global Talks in Canada marks a major step in strengthening collaboration in energy, advanced technologies, tourism, aviation, and advanced space technology. This aligns with Investopia’s vision to expand globally and connect the international investment community with new opportunities in the world’s fastest-growing markets.

H.E. added: “Investopia Global-Alberta reflects the shared commitment of the UAE and Canada to developing diverse partnerships that advance sustainable development and economic innovation. The initiative comes at a time when bilateral economic relations are witnessing continued growth, as the number of Canadian business licenses in the UAE grew to reach 14,719 by the end of August 2025, compared to 12,374 in August 2024, reflecting a remarkable growth of 19 per cent. Additionally, Canadian commercial agencies in the UAE grew by 8.57 per cent during the same period, underscoring the attractiveness of the UAE’s business and investment environment and reaffirming its growing status as a primary gateway for Canadian companies to expand into the region.”

The Honourable Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta, said: "On behalf of all Albertans, I am thrilled to welcome partners and investors from the United Arab Emirates to our province for Canada’s first-ever Investopia. Alberta and the United Arab Emirates have a lot in common, including significant strengths in energy, emissions reduction, technology, and more. Alberta also boasts a competitive tax environment, business-friendly policies, highly educated and skilled workforce, abundance of natural resources, and incentives to attract investment and accelerate growth in key sectors across our economy. For our partners in the United Arab Emirates looking to make investments that see returns – Alberta is the answer.”

UAE and Canadian ministers discuss global economic shifts

H.E. Bin Touq took part in a ministerial session along with the Honourable Jean Charest, former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and former Premier of Quebec; and the Honourable Joseph Schow, Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade, and Immigration of Alberta.

The session explored key shifts in the global economy and the role of international cooperation in forging sustainable investment partnerships. It also highlighted prospects for integration between the innovation ecosystems of the UAE and Canada, and the importance of leveraging advanced technology, AI, and clean energy to support future growth.

During the session, H.E. Bin Touq reviewed the UAE’s vision to strengthen its position as a global hub for the new economy, as well as the achievements of the national economy in recent years. H.E. also underscored that the UAE–Canada partnership, with its promising investment opportunities in energy, food security, and advanced technologies, represents a model of collaboration that keeps pace with global economic shifts, supporting sustainable economic growth in both countries.

Canada-UAE Business Council Roundtable

As part of the event, a roundtable meeting of the UAE–Canada Business Council was held in the presence of H.E. Bin Touq and several representatives from both public and private sectors in the UAE and Canada. The meeting explored ways to strengthen investment partnerships between the two sides and expand collaboration in new economy sectors. Discussions focused on facilitating investment flows and developing joint ventures that support sustainable growth, while empowering entrepreneurs from both countries to scale globally.

H.E. Bin Touq said: “The Canada-UAE Business Council serves as a strategic platform to deepen economic ties between the two countries and transform promising opportunities into investment partnerships. Through this open dialogue, we aim to explore avenues for cooperation and expand channels for the exchange of insights and ideas between business leaders in Canada and the UAE—delivering added value for our economies and reinforcing the two countries’ role in driving the growth and sustainability of the global economy.”

Investopia – Alberta brings together decision-makers and business leaders from UAE and Canada

The event featured a series of panel discussions that brought together decision-makers and business leaders from the UAE and Canada to address key priority topics aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation. The first session, titled ‘Energy Transition & Clean Tech: Investing in the Future of Energy’ explored opportunities for collaboration in hydrogen and carbon capture and solar energy, in addition to innovative policies that support the transition to more sustainable energy systems, enhancing the economic competitiveness of both countries.

In the second session, ‘Agriculture at a Crossroads: Alberta’s Vision for Global Food Security’, participants discussed ways to link UAE investments in climate-resilient food systems and smart agriculture with Canada’s capabilities as a leading global source of food products. The session also highlighted key innovations in controlled-environment agriculture, sustainable irrigation, and AI-powered farming, paving the way for broader collaboration in this vital sector.

The third session, titled ‘Artificial Intelligence, Automation & Digital Twins in Industry’ focused on the growing role of these technologies in logistics, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy. Discussions explored opportunities for collaboration in developing regulatory frameworks and creating innovative financing mechanisms to support industrial transformation.

The fourth session, ‘Capital Flows & Cross-Border Investment: Building the UAE–Canada Corridor,’ addressed the importance of deepening investment ties between the two countries by strengthening the role of sovereign wealth funds and innovation hubs, and scaling up venture capital ecosystems. This, in turn, would enable Canadian businesses to access Gulf markets and open opportunities for UAE investments in Canada.

The final session, ‘Airports of the Future: Co-Innovating the Next Era of Air Mobility,’ explored opportunities for collaboration between Alberta’s and the UAE’s aviation sectors, including digital transformation of airports, drone system development, and the creation of more advanced and sustainable travel experiences.

During the event, Jay Sadiq, Founder and CEO of FortyGuard, delivered a presentation titled ‘Smarter Cities, Cooler Futures: Innovation from the UAE,’ emphasizing the role of urban climate intelligence in creating more sustainable and livable cities. He shared the story of FortyGuard’s journey from a UAE-born startup to a global innovator, showcasing how its pioneering solutions are enhancing urban quality of life around the world.

The UAE delegation participating in the event included representatives from the public and private sectors. The event brought together over 150 business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers from the UAE and Canada. It was organized in partnership with the Government of Alberta and in collaboration with Edmonton Global, an international business development agency, and DMG Events.

Investopia – Alberta, the 19th edition of Investopia Global Talks, reflects the UAE’s vision to reinforce its position as a globally attractive investment hub and connect with the world’s fastest-growing markets. Since its inception, Investopia has welcomed over 16,000 participants from 71 countries and organized 18 global events in major cities, including New York, Geneva, London, Milan, Monaco, Rabat, Hong Kong, and Beijing.