Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates are united by a shared history, religion, cultural, and spiritual values. In recent years, relations between our countries have been developing dynamically. An active political dialogue at various levels plays a significant role in this process.
The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, paid official visits to the UAE in March 2019, May 2022, and January this year. The leaders of the two states regularly meet within the framework of multilateral forums and maintain constant contact by telephone. Interaction has been established between parliaments and foreign policy agencies, and meetings of the intergovernmental commission are held regularly.
From January 13 to 16 this year, at the invitation of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid an official visit to Abu Dhabi. On January 14, the Leader of Uzbekistan took part in the opening ceremonies of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit and the Sheikh Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards Ceremony.
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is an international platform established in 2008 by the Government of the UAE and Masdar to address global challenges in the field of sustainable development. The main goal of the forum is to promote the acceleration of sustainable development worldwide, advance economic, social, and environmental progress, ensure food and water security, and encourage energy efficiency and decarbonization.
The summit’s agenda included issues of sustainable development, the introduction of innovations and new technologies in the field of the green economy, and the strengthening of regional cooperation in energy and food security.
As part of the forum, a ceremony was also held to present the award named after the late founding father of the Emirates, Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan, for achievements in the field of sustainable development. In the “Global High Schools” category, the Presidential School in Tashkent was announced the winner. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan presented the award. The President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with the school representatives and warmly congratulated them on their victory.
Speaking at the summit, the Leader of Uzbekistan emphasized that diversifying energy sources and drastically reducing the share of hydrocarbons are essential conditions for mitigating the consequences of climate change, ensuring sustainable development, and safeguarding global security.
It should be noted that in recent years, the investment portfolio between Uzbekistan and the UAE has exceeded $26 billion, with renewable energy projects playing a key role. In cooperation with Masdar, five energy facilities with a total capacity of 1.5 GW have been commissioned. Shortly, three additional projects with a combined capacity of 1.6 GW are expected to be launched, along with the creation of storage systems with a capacity of about 520 MWh.
The visit of the President of Uzbekistan to the UAE marked a new stage in the history of bilateral relations, elevating them to the level of a strategic partnership. In recent years, the volume of mutual trade and investment, as well as the number of joint ventures, has increased significantly. The frequency of direct flights has grown, and a visa-free regime has been introduced. During the visit, a portfolio of new projects involving leading UAE companies, primarily in high-tech industries, was formed.
The parties emphasized the need for further development of dialogue between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs to strengthen political contacts. The leaders identified six key areas of the new model of economic cooperation: artificial intelligence, digitalization, green energy, urban planning and infrastructure, tourism, and private business. An agreement was reached to establish working groups for each of these areas.
The proposal to declare 2025-2027 as the “New Era of Economic Partnership between Uzbekistan and the UAE” was supported. In this context, priority tasks were outlined, including increasing the volume of mutual trade tenfold and bringing the investment portfolio to $50 billion by 2030.
Particular attention was devoted to expanding cultural and humanitarian exchange. The President of Uzbekistan proposed the development of a joint program for training specialists and conducting scientific research in the field of artificial intelligence with the participation of Mohamed bin Zayed University. Following the negotiations, a Declaration on the Establishment of Strategic Partnership was signed, along with several bilateral agreements.
The states also pay special attention to the development of tourism. As is well known, thanks to its improving infrastructure and high-quality services, the UAE is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. In addition, about 3.5 million UAE citizens travel abroad annually, making the country a regional leader in outbound tourism. Uzbekistan, with its rich cultural and historical heritage and favorable climate, represents a promising destination for tourists from the UAE, particularly considering the potential for pilgrimage tourism. The decision to abolish visa requirements for citizens of the UAE and other Gulf countries contributes to the growth of tourist flows to the country.
It can be said with confidence that Uzbekistan and the UAE are long-term partners whose interests largely coincide. The two countries are implementing mutually complementary national development strategies. Bilateral relations, including regular high-level contacts, have acquired a consistent and stable character. In the context of the transformation of the international system and the formation of a new model of the global economy and trade, this contributes to the further rapprochement of our states and the strengthening of interstate cooperation in the interests of the peoples of Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Muharrama Pirmatova, UzA