The Government of Ras Al Khaimah has signed a memorandum of understanding with Hong Kong-listed UBTECH Robotics to test and deploy humanoid robots in the emirate, the government said in a statement on Monday.
Under the agreement, UBTECH will send humanoid robots and specialized engineering teams to Ras Al Khaimah to run live demonstration projects.
The two sides will also study setting up a Ras Al Khaimah Humanoid Robotics Climate Research Initiative. It would use the emirate’s environmental and operating conditions to test how robots perform in the UAE and the wider Gulf.
Initial trials will cover automated industrial assembly, public-facing services, AI-assisted elder care and cultural spaces.
Ras Al Khaimah will provide a live testing sandbox and regulatory frameworks. UBTECH will supply its robotic platforms, technical infrastructure and research capabilities.
Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, witnessed the signing in Shenzhen, China, where UBTECH was founded in 2012.
Alma Au Yeung, Greater China Affairs Advisor at the Office of the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, signed for the emirate’s International Relations Office. Claudia Chen, Overseas Sales Director of UBTECH Robotics, signed for the company.
The signing opened a week-long official visit across South China focused on technology, investment, innovation and trade, the government said.
“This collaboration represents a meaningful step forward in Ras Al Khaimah’s journey toward a knowledge-based economy,” Au Yeung said.
Chen said UBTECH aims “to accelerate the region’s industrial modernization” by pairing humanoid robotics research and development with industry talent development.
The statement did not disclose financial terms. Ras Al Khaimah is home to more than 73,000 companies, according to the government.
