The Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates has expressed his country’s deep appreciation for Cyprus’ role as a reliable partner in the wider region, reaffirming the UAE’s commitment to provide all possible support to efforts to further strengthen bilateral economic relations and investments.
According to a press release by the Ministry of Energy, Cypriot Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry, George Papanastasiou, who is in Dubai for the international exhibition GITEX GLOBAL 2025, held today an official meeting with Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, during which they discussed important issues of bilateral and regional cooperation.
The two Ministers exchanged views, among other things, on the upcoming establishment of the Cyprus Business Council, which will be based in Dubai and will consist of representatives of Cypriot businesses operating in the UAE. Provided that the relevant procedures are completed, the Council’s statute will be officially signed by its founding members, at a ceremony to be held within the framework of the international Doers Summit (Dubai, 26 and 27 November), it is added.
Papanastasiou briefed the UAE official on the upcoming Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union and presented Cyprus’s key priorities in the areas of energy, trade and industry. In this context, they discussed about the prospect of a trade agreement between the European Union and the United Arab Emirates, an issue that remains high on the European agenda and is of particular interest to both states, the press release says.
Furthermore, the Minister of Energy briefed the UAE Minister of Economy on the Technological Park project, the Paphos Marina, as well as the energy interconnection and other strategic projects that strengthen Cyprus-UAE cooperation in the field of energy infrastructure. He also made special reference to the excellent relations between Cyprus and Egypt, which contribute decisively to the stability and development of the region, the press release notes.
The UAE Minister expressed his deep appreciation for the role of Cyprus as a reliable partner in the wider region, reaffirming the UAE’s commitment to provide all possible support in efforts to further strengthen bilateral economic relations and investments.
He also briefed the Cypriot Minister on the possible synergies given the interest of companies from the UAE to operate in Cyprus, as well as on the next international Investopia conference in Athens, where energy issues will be high on the agenda. He noted that without energy there cannot be development of new digital technologies, such as AI Datacenters.
The two Ministers agreed to meet again in November, in the context of the Doers Summit and the 1st General Assembly of the Cyprus Business Council, the press release concludes.