Uzbekistan, UAE Expand Strategic Partnership Talks

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The second day of the working visit of the Uzbek delegation to the United Arab Emirates took place in Abu Dhabi and focused on key areas of bilateral cooperation, including investment, finance, energy, water infrastructure, logistics, construction, the chemical industry, and education.

One of the central meetings was held with Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Details of the talks are expected to be released separately.

During a meeting with UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Al Mazrouei, the sides discussed the current state of strategic partnership and the further development of joint projects in energy, infrastructure, logistics, and industry.

It was noted that the United Arab Emirates remains one of Uzbekistan’s key partners in the energy sector. The portfolio of joint projects with Masdar and AMEA Power exceeds USD 5 billion.

The privatization of the Talimarjan Thermal Power Plant with the participation of TAQA has been completed, and an agreement has also been signed for the construction of a solar power plant with round-the-clock generation capacity. The potential for expanding cooperation in mining, the chemical industry, the financial sector, and privatization was also emphasized.

With the acting CEO of TAQA Water Solutions, Nader Asad bin Taher, the parties discussed two major infrastructure projects: the construction of wastewater treatment facilities with a capacity of 300,000 cubic meters per day, and a 65-kilometer water pipeline from the Ugam River to New Tashkent.

Special attention was given to investment cooperation involving L’imad Holding and Plenary. Discussions with Jasim Mohammed Al Zaabi and Mustafa Fahour covered expanded collaboration, including new projects in mining and chemicals, as well as the development of public-private partnerships, financial sector initiatives, and privatization programs.

With Etihad Rail, the possibility of the company’s participation in the Trans-Afghan railway project—considered a strategically important regional infrastructure initiative—was reviewed.

Talks with Ta’ziz focused on prospects for cooperation in the chemical industry, including potential participation in a large-scale phosphate fertilizer production complex in the Samarkand region.

A separate meeting was held with UAE Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar. The sides discussed cooperation in education, science, academic exchanges, and training of specialists in priority fields.

Following the second day of the visit in Abu Dhabi, both sides confirmed the high level of strategic dialogue between Uzbekistan and the UAE and their readiness to translate agreements into practical implementation.