Once, imagining that relations between the South Caucasus and
Arab countries would develop rapidly and become firmly established
seemed like something out of One Thousand and One Nights.
Today, however, this has become an observable reality. This is
because the diplomatic pathways that opened up in the South
Caucasus region, where Azerbaijan is located, were once limited to
northern and neighbouring states. Since gaining independence,
Azerbaijan has made it a guiding principle to expand the scope of
its diplomatic relations further. It has aimed to develop the
country’s political and economic independence not within a narrow
framework alone, but across the Western, Central, Middle Eastern
and Far Eastern dimensions.
Certainly, President Ilham Aliyev’s upcoming visit to the United
Arab Emirates reflects the steady elevation of Azerbaijan-UAE
relations from pragmatic cooperation to a broad-based strategic
partnership. Over the past decade, ties between Baku and Abu Dhabi
have expanded well beyond traditional diplomacy and energy
cooperation. Today, the relationship encompasses green energy,
tourism, investment, cyber technologies, education, humanitarian
engagement and digital innovation. This multidimensional agenda
provides the political and economic context for the Azerbaijani
President’s visit to Abu Dhabi on 16 to 17 December, undertaken at
the special invitation of UAE President Shaikh Muhammad bin Zayed
Al Nahyan.
At the heart of this visit is President Ilham Aliyev’s
participation in the opening ceremony of the Global Games of the
Future 2025, a global sporting event that combines physical and
digital competition. The tournament, hosted by the UAE after
winning a competitive bid in 2024, reflects the country’s ambition
to position itself as a global hub for innovation and
future-oriented industries. For Azerbaijan, whose own development
strategy increasingly prioritises digitalisation, cyber
technologies and innovation-driven growth, participation at the
highest political level signals both alignment with these
priorities and an interest in shaping emerging global
platforms.
The Games of the Future will take place from 18 to 23 December
at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, bringing together
athletes from across the world to compete in eleven disciplines.
Organised by Phygital International, an organisation headquartered
in the UAE, the tournament merges traditional sport with digital
skills, reflecting broader transformations in global culture and
technology. With a total prize fund of five million US dollars, the
event is also designed to attract international visibility and
investment. President Ilham Aliyev’s attendance underscores
Azerbaijan’s intention to be present where global innovation
agendas are being set.
Beyond the symbolic importance of the event, the visit carries
clear political significance. A bilateral meeting between President
Ilham Aliyev and Shaikh Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan is planned,
continuing a pattern of intensive leader-level engagement that has
become a defining feature of Azerbaijan-UAE relations. President
Aliyev has visited the UAE six times, while the UAE President has
made three high-level visits to Azerbaijan. These exchanges have
played a decisive role in advancing cooperation across sectors and
in establishing mutual trust at the highest level.
The political foundation of the relationship was significantly
strengthened in recent years through landmark agreements. During
Shaikh Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s first official visit to
Azerbaijan on 8 January 2024, the two sides signed a Memorandum of
Understanding on Strategic Partnership. This was followed on 16
September 2025 by the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Strategic
Partnership Relations, signed during the UAE President’s subsequent
visit to Azerbaijan. Together, these documents elevated bilateral
relations to a qualitatively new level, committing both sides to
deeper cooperation in politics, trade, energy, investment and other
priority areas.
Economic cooperation has become one of the most dynamic pillars
of the partnership. In January to October 2025, bilateral trade
turnover reached 147.49 million US dollars, representing an
increase of more than 80 per cent compared to the same period of
the previous year. This sharp growth reflects both improved market
access and expanding business contacts, facilitated in part by the
Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement signed in Abu Dhabi on
9 July 2025. That agreement aims to increase trade volumes,
diversify investment flows, promote innovation and green
technologies, and strengthen ties between business communities.
Investment cooperation has also taken on an institutional
character. In 2023, the Azerbaijan Investment Holding and the Abu
Dhabi Development Holding Company established a Joint Investment
Fund designed to support mutually beneficial projects. Several
initiatives are currently being implemented through this mechanism,
signalling long-term confidence in economic cooperation and shared
development goals.
Energy remains a central strategic area, but its focus is
increasingly forward-looking. UAE companies Masdar and ADNOC play
an active role in Azerbaijan’s energy sector. Under the so-called
Mega project with Masdar, large-scale renewable energy facilities
are being developed, including solar power plants in Bilasuvar and
Neftchala and a wind power plant in the Absheron Garadagh area.
These projects, with a combined capacity of nearly one gigawatt,
are expected to be commissioned between 2026 and 2027 and are
central to Azerbaijan’s green transition strategy. ADNOC’s
participation in the Absheron gas project further anchors energy
cooperation on a strategic footing.
People-to-people ties reinforce these economic and political
links. Direct flights between Baku and Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah
have boosted tourism, with nearly 39 thousand UAE citizens visiting
Azerbaijan this year. Transit transport volumes between the two
countries have also increased by more than 20 per cent,
strengthening Azerbaijan’s role as a regional connectivity hub.
Humanitarian and cultural cooperation adds depth to the
relationship. The UAE’s contribution of five million US dollars to
mine clearance efforts in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories has
been widely appreciated, reflecting political solidarity and
practical support. In education and culture, initiatives such as
the opening of the Sheikh Zayed Arabic language auditorium at the
Azerbaijan University of Languages and the organisation of Shusha
Days in Abu Dhabi in November 2024 have strengthened mutual
understanding.
President Aliyev’s visit, therefore, should be seen not as a
single event, but as part of a broader strategic trajectory. By
accepting a special invitation from the UAE leader and engaging in
a platform that blends sport, technology and global visibility,
Azerbaijan signals its intention to deepen partnerships that
support its long-term political and economic objectives. The visit
reflects a convergence of interests between two states seeking
influence through innovation, connectivity and strategic
foresight.