Morgan, who heads the devolved Welsh Government, yesterday began his official visit to the Emirates for political and trade talks. He was speaking at a seminar on green energy organised by the British Embassy about different technologies that are being developed in Wales to produce renewable energy.

He said the modern histories of Wales and the UAE have both been shaped by the energy industry.

"A hundred years ago Wales was the centre of the international coal trade, just as the UAE is today at the heart of the global oil industry," he said. Both countries recognise the need for diverse sources of energy, he added.

Every country has to determine where its greatest potential lies for developing renewable energy, Morgan said. Wales has more than 20 windfarms on land and the United Kingdom's first offshore windfarm. Despite the expense, there is also a lot of potential for using wave and tidal technologies off the Welsh coast, he said.

There are currently proposals for 6.5 billion euros worth of new energy projects in Wales, he said.

Also among the speakers were the UAE Minister of Environment and Water, Dr Mohammed Saeed Al Kindi and the Deputy Managing Director of Shell's Abu Dhabi office, David Westerman.