Yoon Suk Yeol heads to UAE and Davos starting Saturday

President Yoon Suk Yeol will make an eight-day trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for a state visit and Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum from Jan. 14 to 21.

National Security Adviser Kim Sung-han announces that President Yoon Suk Yeol will make an eight-day trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Switzerland from Jan. 14 to 21 in a press briefing at the Yongsan presidential office in Seoul Tuesday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Yoon Suk Yeol will make an eight-day trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for a state visit and Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum.

Yoon will visit the UAE from Saturday to Tuesday for a summit and state luncheon with President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, announced National Security Adviser Kim Sung-han in a press briefing.

Yoon will also tour the Barakah nuclear power plant built by South Korean companies in Abu Dhabi's far western desert, as a symbol of the two countries' nuclear cooperation, and visit the Korean Army's Akh unit deployed in the UAE.

Korea deployed the Akh unit in January 2011 to help train the UAE's special forces during peace time and protect Korean residents there. The Akh unit is named after the Arabic word for "brother."

The president will be accompanied by a delegation with the heads of some 100 companies. It is the first time that such a large business delegation has accompanied Yoon on an overseas visit since he took office last May. Around 70 percent of the companies represented in the delegation are small- or medium-sized.

The visit is expected to show support for Korean companies entering the UAE market and encourage investments in fields such as nuclear power.

This is the first time that a leader of either country has made a state visit since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1980.

Yoon's first state visit to the UAE "reflects the expectations for the two countries to take bilateral relations to a higher level as a special strategic partnership," said Kim.

"The fact that Korea chose the UAE as our first overseas destination this year and our first visit to the Middle East reflects our strong intentions to focus our diplomacy on revitalizing the economy and expanding exports," said Kim. "Through this visit, strategic cooperation with the UAE, our brother country, in nuclear energy investment and defense will be greatly strengthened."

The two countries are expected to strengthen cooperation in four key areas: nuclear power, energy, defense and investments.

A number of memorandums of understanding (MOU) will be signed during this trip.

The two countries are currently finalizing the schedule for the visit, which comes upon the invitation of the UAE president.

On Jan. 17, Yoon will head to Switzerland to meet with Korean residents in Zurich and travel to Davos the next day for the World Economic Forum.

On Jan. 18, Yoon will hold a luncheon meeting with CEOs of major Korean and global companies to discuss economic policies and investment.

The meeting is expected be attended by Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Chairman Chey Tae-won, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin and Hanwha Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan, according to the presidential office.

It will also be attended by CEOs and executives of global companies such as Intel, IBM, Qualcomm, JP Morgan and Sony.

Later that day, Yoon will attend a Korea Night to promote Busan's bid to host the 2030 World Expo.

On Jan. 19, Yoon will give an address at the World Economic Forum on overcoming global economic crises through international cooperation.

The forum's theme this year is: "Cooperation in a Fragmented World."

"President Yoon through attending the Davos Forum and meeting with global opinion leaders will promote a favorable investment environment for Korea and technological competitiveness," said Kim.

This is the first time in eight years that a Korean president has attended the Davos Forum since former President Park Geun-hye in 2014.

Yoon will also visit the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich to meet with scholars to discuss science and technology cooperation.

This will be Yoon's first overseas trip in the new year.

He is set to return to Korea on Jan. 21, the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]