ABU DHABI — Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday to strengthen ties with the United Arab Emirates, particularly in artificial intelligence. This visit comes as the UAE faces accusations of complicity in a genocide in Sudan. Carney's trip marks the first by a sitting Canadian prime minister to the UAE since 1983.

The Emirati government has restricted media access to the bilateral meetings, which is unusual for high-level visits. UAE Industry Minister Sultan al-Jaber welcomed Carney with a ceremonial display, as the prime minister disembarked into a hallway lined with soldiers. The two leaders then proceeded to a large room for tea served by men in traditional attire.

The discussions aim to attract investment from Emirati sovereign wealth funds and the private sector to diversify Canada's economy amid ongoing trade tensions with the U.S. This visit follows years of negotiations on an investment protection agreement that could enhance private sector collaboration between the two nations.

While Carney was en route, Air Canada and Emirates airline announced an extension of their code-share agreement until 2032. This agreement allows airlines to market and sell seats on each other's flights, expanding travel options for passengers.

The UAE has recently faced increasing scrutiny from human rights organizations, a United Nations panel, and the U.S. government, which have accused it of supporting a Sudanese militia involved in severe ethnic violence. The UAE has denied these allegations. The civil war in Sudan began in April 2023, pitting the national army against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group that evolved from the Janjaweed militia responsible for the Darfur genocide from 2003 to 2005.

The ongoing conflict has led to a humanitarian crisis, with both sides blocking aid and creating the largest displacement crisis in the world. In January, the Biden administration labeled the RSF's actions as genocidal and imposed sanctions on UAE companies accused of supplying arms to the militia. Canada has not echoed this characterization of the situation in Sudan.

Reports have surfaced of RSF members sharing graphic videos of their attacks on ethnic groups. Yale's Humanitarian Research Lab has released satellite images indicating mass killings in various locations. Rights groups allege that aircraft intended for humanitarian aid from the UAE to Sudan are instead transporting weapons, citing evidence of UAE-labeled arms and ongoing gold exports from Sudan to the UAE.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently indicated that a specific country is supporting the RSF, a statement widely interpreted as a reference to the UAE. Nicholas Coghlan, a former Canadian ambassador to Sudan, expressed surprise at the Carney government's reluctance to publicly address the UAE's role. He stated, "There seems to be an excessive pussyfooting around, trying not to offend anybody."

Coghlan suggested that calling on the UAE to adhere to a UN arms embargo would not provoke a diplomatic incident. He emphasized the importance of global pressure to prevent further violence in Sudan, stating, "If the squeeze had really been put on the UAE a year ago... we would not have had the genocide that is, I would say, indisputably underway in Darfur."

Carney is scheduled to meet with senior officials and business leaders in Abu Dhabi on Thursday and Friday before heading to South Africa for the G20 summit. Global Affairs Canada describes the UAE as a strong partner in trade and regional security, highlighting its role in Canada's resettlement efforts for Afghans after the Taliban's takeover in 2021.

The UAE has invested significantly in green technology and climate change initiatives through its sovereign wealth funds, which have also made substantial investments in Canada. Canada exports various goods, including arms and agricultural products, to the UAE, while importing metals and related products.

Both Canada and the UAE claim to promote human rights globally, though their interpretations of this concept differ significantly. The UAE, a predominantly Muslim nation, positions itself as a counter to oppressive forms of Islam in other regions.