UAE, Azerbaijan Presidents meet in Karabakh to review bilateral ties

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, met in Karabakh on Tuesday to review the evolving ties between the two nations and explore ways to deepen cooperation.

The talks were held during Sheikh Mohamed’s official visit to Azerbaijan, where he received a warm welcome from Aliyev who expressed his confidence that the visit would help expand collaboration and bring mutual benefits to both countries and their peoples.

The two leaders discussed opportunities to further broaden bilateral ties, particularly in areas including the economy, investment, food security, renewable energy and culture, as well as other sectors that support both nations’ development and their shared vision for the future.

Sheikh Mohamed noted his pleasure to be visiting Azerbaijan and meeting Aliyev to continue building on their bilateral ties and expanding cooperation and collaboration.

He highlighted that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed between the two countries in July marks a significant milestone in their economic relations and promises to have a profound impact on realising their shared development goals.

The UAE President also emphasised the importance of cultural cooperation as a cornerstone of the relationship between the two countries and a means of strengthening ties.

He noted their shared commitment to preserving and sustaining their rich and diverse cultural heritage, rooted in a mutual belief that cultural exchange serves as a bridge for communication and collaboration between nations.

During the meeting, Sheikh Mohamed highlighted that relations between the UAE and Azerbaijan have grown steadily over the past decades, and emphasised both countries’ shared commitment to further strengthening cooperation in areas that support their common development goals.

The two leaders also exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues of mutual interest, stressing the importance of joint efforts to strengthen the foundations of regional and global peace and security.

In this context, Sheikh Mohamed reaffirmed the UAE’s steadfast support for all efforts that promote stability and development for the peoples and nations of the Caucasus region, and expressed his hope for continued positive progress in the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

For his part, Aliyev reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s commitment to building on the progress made in bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation with the UAE across a range of sectors.

He said Sheikh Mohamed’s visit was a valuable opportunity to continue consultations and strengthen coordination on regional and international issues of shared interest.

At the conclusion of their talks, Sheikh Mohamed and Aliyev reaffirmed their shared commitment to leveraging the significant opportunities available to advance sustainable development in both countries and promote regional and global stability.

The meeting was attended by the delegation accompanying Sheikh Mohamed, which included Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Adviser to the UAE President, along with a number of ministers and senior officials. From the Azerbaijani side, several ministers and senior officials were in attendance.

Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, MoUs: Sheikh Mohamed and Ilham Aliyev also witnessed the announcement of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the UAE and Azerbaijan.

The agreement represents a significant milestone in bilateral relations, fostering broader cooperation across sectors in a way that advances both countries’ development priorities and serves the mutual interests of their peoples.

The two leaders also attended the signing of several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) covering key sectors including transport, energy, tourism, media, justice, and workforce development.

Additional agreements were signed relating to container-ship building and the establishment of the UAE-Azerbaijan Business Council.

Further MoUs included:

• An MoU between Abu Dhabi Holding Company and Azerbaijan Investment Holding;

• An MoU on exploring development and investment opportunities in renewable and clean energy projects within designated green energy zones in the UAE;

• An MoU on the application of artificial intelligence in education through the development of an AI-powered virtual tutor to support students, as well as an intelligent teaching assistant to aid teachers in schools;

• An MoU on the implementation of the Republic of Azerbaijan’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy for the period 2025–2028, aimed at advancing AI capabilities through strategy-driven technology deployment, digital transformation, and the development of talent, startups, and innovation ecosystems.

The MoUs were exchanged by Saeed Mubarak Al Hajeri, Minister of State, on behalf of the UAE, and Jeyhun Bayramov, Minister of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of Azerbaijan, in the presence of members of the delegation accompanying Sheikh Mohamed, alongside ministers and senior Azerbaijani officials.

HISTORICAL LANDMARKS: Sheikh Mohamed also visited several historical and natural landmarks in the city of Shusha, located in the Karabakh region.

He was accompanied Ilham Aliyev.

The tour included Shusha Fortress, which dates back to the 1750s and is regarded as a historical and cultural symbol of Azerbaijan.

Sheikh Mohamed also visited Shusha Mosque, designed to be one of the city’s most prominent cultural and religious landmarks.

The itinerary included a visit to the Jidir Duzu Plain, a renowned natural landmark and leading tourist attraction in the region.

The site regularly hosts horse racing and equestrian displays to train, evaluate, and select horses, as well as a range of cultural and sporting events.

Additionally, Sheikh Mohamed toured a number of monuments commemorating prominent Azerbaijani figures in the fields of literature and the arts, and also paid a visit to the Shusha branch of the National Carpet Museum of Azerbaijan.

Later in the day Sheikh Mohamed departed Karabakh today, concluding his official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Ilham Aliyev bid farewell to Sheikh Mohamed and the accompanying delegation at Fuzuli International Airport.

WAM