ABU DHABI, 5 December 2025: Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, met today with Zak Brown, Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Racing, ahead of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The meeting underscored Abu Dhabi’s commitment to advancing technological innovation within the global motorsport sector. During the discussions, Sheikh Khaled and Brown explored opportunities to deepen collaboration in advanced automotive technologies and artificial intelligence.
Both sides emphasized the importance of developing strategic partnerships that align with Abu Dhabi’s broader vision of fostering innovation-driven industries and positioning the emirate as a global hub for future mobility solutions. The talks highlighted the growing integration of AI and smart systems in high-performance motorsport, where data analytics, automation, and sustainability have become central to engineering excellence. McLaren’s expertise in these domains was recognized as a key contributor to developing new capabilities that could extend beyond racing into commercial and industrial applications.
McLaren’s expertise aligns with Abu Dhabi’s tech ambitions
Sheikh Khaled affirmed Abu Dhabi’s continued support for partnerships that promote research, development, and investment in cutting-edge technologies. He noted that the emirate’s growing ecosystem of innovation, spanning academia, industry, and government, provides a strong foundation for collaboration with global entities such as McLaren. Brown commended Abu Dhabi’s leadership for its forward-looking approach and strategic investment in technology and sustainability, describing it as vital for the future of motorsport and for advancing performance efficiency in the automotive sector.
Collaboration to advance intelligent mobility solutions
He expressed McLaren’s interest in expanding cooperation across innovation initiatives that contribute to both competitive racing and wider industry progress. The meeting also reflected the shared ambition to use motorsport as a platform for technological development and global engagement. With the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix serving as the final event of the Formula 1 season, both parties noted its significance as a showcase for engineering excellence and international collaboration in sports and technology.
Present at the meeting were Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority; Jassem Mohammed Bu Ataba Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Department of Finance, Abu Dhabi; and Saif Saeed Ghobash, Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Office of the Crown Prince. Their participation underscored the emirate’s coordinated approach to fostering high-impact partnerships across key economic and innovation sectors. – By Content Syndication Services.