The United Arab Emirates and Azerbaijan signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) as a new chapter in bilateral relations, aiming to boost economic growth, diversification, and investment in strategic sectors. The UAE is one of the leading investors in Azerbaijan, serving as a strategic partner, particularly in the renewable energy sector. A joint business council has been established to expand trade relations between the UAE and Azerbaijan and to increase trade and investment opportunities, which demonstrates the deepening of economic cooperation.
Here, it is important to emphasize the activity of Azerbaijan's trade representative in the UAE since 2017, which underscores the importance Azerbaijan attaches to the UAE's role in the region. The Azerbaijani Trade House in Dubai was inaugurated on January 15, 2019, and the activity of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry office in Baku is also notable in developing economic relations between the UAE and Azerbaijan.
Nine meetings of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Trade, and Technical Cooperation between the governments of the two countries have been held, with the most recent one taking place in Shusha (Azerbaijan) in 2024.
The official visit of Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak Al Shamsi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, to the Republic of Azerbaijan took place on February 16–17, 2026. The visit was aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in the sectors of food security, agriculture, and livestock. During the visit, she held high-level meetings with a number of Azerbaijani officials.
On February 11, H.E. Mohamed Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport in Abu Dhabi, along with his accompanying delegation and with the participation of H.E. Mohamed Murad Al Baloushi, the UAE Ambassador to Baku, met with H.E. Mikayil Jabbarov, Minister of Economy; H.E. Rashad Nabiyev, Minister of Digital Development and Transport; and Mr. Eldar Azizov, Head of the Executive Authority of Baku. This took place during the official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan, during which a twin-city memorandum of understanding was signed between Abu Dhabi and Baku, and ways to enhance joint economic cooperation across all fields were discussed.
From April 28 to 29, 2026, His Excellency Saeed Al Hajeri, Minister of State of the United Arab Emirates, paid a working visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations and the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
The second meeting of the UAE-Azerbaijan Strategic Partnership Cooperation Committee was held in Baku, co-chaired by His Excellency Saeed Al Hajeri, Minister of State, and His Excellency Yalchin Refayev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. The meeting reviewed the progress of cooperation between the two friendly countries and the achievements in various areas of joint work, which support the comprehensive strategic partnership. It also followed up on the implementation of the 2025-2029 Roadmap and priority projects. The UAE delegation, headed by His Excellency Saeed Al Hajeri, Minister of State, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Azerbaijani side, enhancing cooperation between the two friendly countries.
AZCON Holding and Abu Dhabi Ports Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore opportunities for strategic cooperation in the fields of ports, maritime shipping, logistics, and digital trade solutions in Azerbaijan.
From June 1 to 3, the UAE delegation was led by H.E. the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, and included high-level representatives from ADNOC, Masdar, and XRG. This participation was coordinated and facilitated by H.E. Ambassador Mohamed Al Baloushi, who personally attended the event and supported the enhancement of high-level communication with partners and stakeholders throughout the activities. As part of this event, the delegation met with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, where discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the energy sector and exploring opportunities for strategic partnerships. The event also witnessed a major and pivotal achievement represented by the signing of a natural gas sale and purchase agreement from the "Absheron" field. This event is considered one of the most prominent energy sector events in the region, bringing together government representatives, international energy companies, investors, and industry leaders to discuss developments in the global energy market, energy security, and sustainability initiatives.
The UAE maintains a strong and diverse investment portfolio in Azerbaijan, encompassing the energy, infrastructure, logistics, and municipal cooperation sectors. In the traditional energy sector, ADNOC acquired a 30% stake in the Absheron gas and condensate field in the Caspian Sea, while XRG invests in the Southern Gas Corridor, and Esyasoft Holding is working on implementing smart gas management solutions. In the renewable energy sector, Masdar is leading robust efforts with a broad portfolio that includes the 230 MW Garadagh solar photovoltaic project, the 30 MW waste-to-energy plant, the solar photovoltaic projects in the Banka settlement (Neftchala district) and the Bilasuvar region, in addition to the onshore wind power project in the Absheron-Garadagh area. Masdar is also leading massive joint development initiatives, including 2 GW offshore wind and hydrogen projects, 1 GW solar photovoltaic projects, and 1 GW onshore wind power projects.
Broader economic and infrastructure ties are further reinforced through a joint venture between the investment firm ADQ and the Azerbaijan Investment Holding to target priority sectors of mutual interest, alongside Modon Holding developing the "City Within a City" project. Furthermore, AD Ports Group has partnered with AZCON Holding to explore ways of strategic cooperation in the fields of ports, shipping, logistics, and digital trade solutions, while air connectivity is maintained through the flight and cargo services provided by flydubai and Air Arabia. This multifaceted relationship is complemented by bilateral cooperation, including the city twinning initiative between the municipalities of Abu Dhabi and Baku, and vital humanitarian support through demining efforts in the Karabakh region.
