Uzbekistan and the UAE have taken their partnership to new heights, forming a strategic alliance rooted in trust between their leaders, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the UAE’s leadership. This collaboration has sparked growth in trade, economic, industrial, technological, and cultural sectors.

Investments from the UAE in Uzbekistan have been rising steadily, with $1.08 billion invested in 2023 and over $1.5 billion in 2024. Currently, there are 337 UAE-funded enterprises in Uzbekistan, including 114 joint ventures. Major Emirati companies such as Masdar, Taqa, ADQ, Mubadala, DP World, and the Abu Dhabi Development Fund are key players in these initiatives.

The creation of the Uzbek-Emirati Investment Company has streamlined joint projects, managing an investment portfolio of $200 million and overseeing projects in medicine, agriculture, tourism, and more. Trade between the two nations has also grown significantly, with bilateral trade increasing by over 20% annually since 2021, reaching nearly $650 million in 2024. Efforts like reducing trade barriers and simplifying licensing processes aim to unlock even greater potential.

In September 2024, a business forum brought together top officials, including the Dubai Chamber of Commerce’s Mohammad Lootah, and over 40 UAE business representatives to discuss expanding partnerships. Uzbekistan has also been actively showcasing investment opportunities, conducting roadshows in the UAE and presenting state asset privatization and public-private partnership projects.

Transport links between the two countries are robust, with over 50 weekly flights operated by airlines like Uzbekistan Airways, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, and Fly Dubai, connecting cities such as Tashkent, Samarkand, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai.

In education, the “One Million Uzbek Coders” program, supported by the UAE government, has trained young Uzbeks in IT specialties. Cultural ties have also flourished, with events like the international premiere of Uzbekistan’s national ballet “Lazgi” in Dubai.

President Mirziyoyev once remarked that the UAE achieved an “economic miracle” in just 50 years. Uzbekistan, through its partnership with the UAE, is working to replicate this success, driving transformation and improving citizens’ lives.