Uzbekistan and the UAE are expanding the horizons of mutually beneficial cooperation

On January 13, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates. As part of the visit, a number of meetings and events are planned in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The head of our state will hold bilateral negotiations in the capital of the emirates with the President of the UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, meet with the heads of leading government organizations, companies and banks of the country, and will also take part in the international summit “Abu Dhabi Sustainable Development Week”.

A meeting is planned in Dubai with the Vice-President, Prime Minister of the UAE, Emir of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The theme of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week international summit will be “Supporting Innovation with Sustainable Impact”. Its events will be attended by heads of state and government from more than 10 countries implementing projects jointly with the Emirati company Masdar, as well as representatives of large international companies.

Masdar has been working in Uzbekistan since 2019, implementing the 100 MW Nur Navoi. Solar project, which is the country's first successfully funded independent solar energy production project. Masdar's growing portfolio of projects in Uzbekistan includes the largest wind farm in Central Asia, the 500 MW Zarafshan Power Plant. In 2023, Masdar achieved financial close on three solar projects in Jizzakh, Samarkand and Sherabad, which have a total capacity of approximately 900 megawatts, making it the largest solar energy development program in Central Asia.

This cooperation demonstrates the mutual interest of the two countries, as well as the commitment to achieving their decarbonization goals. It is one of the key components of the relations between Uzbekistan and the UAE, established on October 25, 1992.

In general, bilateral cooperation between the countries has today expanded significantly in all directions.

The summit meetings have contributed to the strengthening of political ties between Uzbekistan and the UAE. In March 2019, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the UAE on an official visit, during which agreements worth over 10 billion US dollars were signed, covering various areas of cooperation.

On October 2, 2023, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with the President of the UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as part of his participation in the opening ceremony of the international exhibition horticulture Doha Expo 2023.

November 30 - December 2, 2023, the head of our state made a working visit to Dubai, where he took part in the UN Climate Change Conference.

High-level exchanges intensified.

June 10, 2022, Minister of Government Affairs of the UAE Muhammad Al-Gergawi was received by the President and Prime Minister of Uzbekistan. During this visit to our country, a Memorandum was also signed between the governments of the two countries on expanding cooperation in the field of improving the efficiency of public administration.

On April 4, 2023, the Minister of Government Affairs of the UAE, Muhammad al-Gergawi, was received by the President of Uzbekistan and awarded the Order of “Dustlik” for “contribution to deepening Uzbek-Emirati multifaceted relations and comprehensive support for the reform program in New Uzbekistan.”

In April 2023, the 3rd round of political consultations between Uzbekistan and the UAE was successfully held in Tashkent.

Representative UAE delegations led by members of the government have become traditional participants in the annual Tashkent International Investment Forum.

Fruitful and constructive dialogue established between the foreign ministries of the two countries. In June 2023, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov visited Abu Dhabi on an official visit.

On September 27, 2024, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense of the UAE, Crown Prince of the Emirate of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited Uzbekistan. During the visit, the delegation of the Emirates was received by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and participated in a forum for the exchange of mutual experience between governments. As a result of the visit, a number of bilateral documents were signed.

The consistently developing trade and economic relations between Uzbekistan and the UAE are gaining new dynamics.

The portfolio of ongoing and promising projects with the participation of leading Emirati companies in Uzbekistan reaches $20 billion.

According to as of December 2024, there are 337 enterprises with UAE capital operating in Uzbekistan.

On May 3, 2024, the 5th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation was held in Tashkent.

Both countries strive to further strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation in new areas such as the digital economy, innovation and education. It is planned to implement joint projects aimed at sustainable development and prosperity of both states.

The regular air service established between the two countries, including 55 flights per week, contributes to the expansion of business cooperation and an increase in the mutual flow of tourists.

Uzbekistan actively interacts with the UAE within the framework of international and regional associations. In particular, the partnership with the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) has gained new dynamics. In April 2024, the second meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs of the “Central Asia - GCC” format was held in Tashkent, at which issues of expanding cooperation in the political, trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian spheres were discussed.

The UAE is one of the leading countries in such organizations as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States, a dialogue partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, within which our countries are actively interact.

Both countries attach great importance to the development of cultural ties and humanitarian exchange. Cultural events, exhibitions and festivals are regularly held to promote mutual understanding and strengthen friendship between the peoples of Uzbekistan and the UAE.

Folk groups of the Emirates take part in the International Music Festival "Sharq Taronalari", held in Samarkand, international festivals of poppy arts in Shakhrisabz and Bakhshi in Termez.

In 2019-2023, the delegation of Uzbekistan took part with the national pavilion in the “Festival dedicated to the cultural heritage of Sheikh Zayed, the founder of the United Arab Emirates,” held in Abu Dhabi.

The dance art of Uzbekistan was enthusiastically received by Emirati audiences in March 2023, when the international premiere of the dance ensemble program “Bakhor” took place at the Dubai Opera.

Today, the two countries are developing cultural dialogue through joint exhibitions in museums in Uzbekistan and Abu Dhabi, mutually beneficial joint research in the field of cultural heritage, exchange skills and experience in the field of cultural heritage conservation, museum management, restoration and other areas, as well as the implementation of projects in the field of education.

Thus, relations between Uzbekistan and the UAE continue to develop in an upward direction, covering more and more areas of cooperation and helping to strengthen ties between the regions of Central Asia and the Arab states of the Gulf.

In this context, the visit of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the UAE, which began on January 13, will certainly become an important milestone in the development of bilateral relations and will confirm the desire of both countries to strengthen partnership in key areas, including economics, energy, investment and culture. This event will also serve to strengthen interaction within regional and international organizations, promoting stable growth and prosperity of states.

IA Dunyo