GlobalFoundries explained: the Mubadala company visited by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed in Singapore

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince visited the microchip manufacturer as part of his Asian tour

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces (left), looks through virtual reality goggles, during a meeting, at Mubadala's GlobalFoundries semiconductor facility. He is seen with Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chief executive and managing director Mubadala, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority and Abu Dhabi Executive Council Member. Ryan Carter for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed tours Mubadala's GlobalFoundries semiconductor facility. He is seen with Kay Chai Ang, senior vice president and general manager for GlobalFoundries Asia and Europe Operations, right. Eissa Al Hammadi for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed tours Mubadala's GlobalFoundries semiconductor facility with Kay Chai Ang (second right). Ryan Carter for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed looks at a project during a visit to Mubadala's GlobalFoundries semiconductor facility. He is seen with Kay Chai Ang, Dr Mohamed Osman, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence & Ministry of Foreign Affairs (left) and Khaldoon Al Mubarak. Ryan Carter for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed looks at a project during a visit to Mubadala's GlobalFoundries semiconductor facility. He is seen with Kay Chai Ang, Dr Mohamed Osman and Khaldoon Al Mubarak. Ryan Carter for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed looks through virtual reality goggles, during a meeting, at Mubadala's GlobalFoundries semiconductor facility. Ryan Carter for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed (left), looks through virtual reality goggles during a meeting, at Mubadala's GlobalFoundries semiconductor facility. He is seen with Khaldoon Al Mubarak. Eissa Al Hammadi for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State, chairman of Masdar and chief executive of Adnoc Group, Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Undersecretary of the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi, Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister for Climate Change and Environment and Dr Mohamed Balfaqeeh, UAE Ambassador to Singapore, attend a meeting, at Mubadala's GlobalFoundries semiconductor facility. Eissa Al Hammadi for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, listens to a presentation, at Mubadala's GlobalFoundries semiconductor facility. He is seen with Khaldoon Al Mubarak and Dr Mohamed Osman. Ryan Carter for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

A presentation board display, at Mubadala's GlobalFoundries semiconductor facility. Eissa Al Hammadi for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed stands for a photograph, during a visit to Mubadala's GlobalFoundries semiconductor facility. Seen with Noura Al Kaabi, Suhail Al Mazrouei, Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs . Dr Mohamed Osman, Kay Chai Ang, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Dr Sultan Al Jaber and Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi. Eissa Al Hammadi for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi was pictured trying out a pair of virtual reality goggles on Thursday, as he continued his tour of Southeast Asia.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, was visiting a GlobalFoundries facility in Singapore.

GlobalFoundries, headquartered in the United States but owned by Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Investment Company, is the world's second largest producer of microchips.

It owns and operates 10 plants across the globe, from Singapore in the East, to New York in the West.

The facility in Singapore’s Woodlands Technology Park boasts more than 5,000 employees and has the capacity to manufacture millions of high quality chips per year. Its markets include the automotive, aerospace and defence sectors.

On Thursday, the UAE delegation visiting Singapore met with the company's management and received a demonstration of the firm's innovations in virtual reality and artificial intelligence.

During a tour of the New York facility last year, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Mubadala's chief executive, said the company was now manufacturing “the world’s most advanced semiconductors, truly the enabling technology of the modern age."

GlobalFoundries was founded in 2009 and won a contract with the Pentagon in 2016 valued at more than $400m to provide sophisticated, custom-built computer chips.

During the Singapore trip this week, Mr Al Mubarak said the company would continue to be a critical part of Mubadala's investment portfolio "with its clear strategy and focus on value creation".