Bilateral relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and the United Arab Emirates

Bilateral relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and the United Arab Emirates

On December 19, 1995 diplomatic relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and the United Arab Emirates were established.

On March 17, 2007, by the decision of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, the General Consulate of the Republic of Tajikistan was established in the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. On April 20, 2010, the United Arab Emirates appointed its first Ambassador to the Republic of Tajikistan with residence in the city of Astana.

On October 8, 2010, by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan was established in the United Arab Emirates and began its activity in early 2011.

On May 18, 2016, by Decree of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Sharifi Bahodur Mahmudzoda was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tajikistan to the United Arab Emirates (to date). Currently, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Arab Emirates to the Republic of Tajikistan (with residence in Astana) is Muhammad Said Muhammad Al-Ariki.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Tajikistan and the United Arab Emirates, various high-level visits have been held. In particular, the first official visit of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, the Honorable Emomali Rahmon, to the United Arab Emirates was completed in 1995 at the invitation of the founder of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Ali Nahyan.

Also, in 2007 and 2016, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan paid an official visit to the United Arab Emirates and discussed the issues of development and expansion of relations of friendship and cooperation between Tajikistan and the United Arab Emirates in a meeting with the leaders of that country.

 From January 1, 2022, citizens of the United Arab Emirates can visit Tajikistan without a visa for a period of 30 days. Also, from January 29, 2023, the system of visa-free travel between the two countries for holders of diplomatic, service and special passports was implemented.

Currently, 27 interstate, intergovernmental and interagency documents form the legal basis of bilateral relations between Tajikistan and the United Arab Emirates.

One of the most effective and important institutions in bilateral relations between Tajikistan and the United Arab Emirates is the Tajikistan-UAE Inter-Governmental Commission on Economic, Commercial and Technical Issues. The activity of this Commission is regulated on the basis of the Agreement on cooperation in economic, commercial and technical spheres from April 9, 2007. Since 2014, four intergovernmental meetings have been held (May 2014 in Abu Zabi, April 2016 in Dushanbe and December 2017 in Abu Zabi, July 29, 2021 (in virtual form).

A tool for conducting political consultations and consular consultations between Tajikistan and the United Arab Emirates has been established based on mutual agreement to continuously monitor bilateral issues. In the history of bilateral relations, the first meeting of political consultations at the level of deputy ministers of foreign affairs was held on March 2017 in Dushanbe and the first session of consular consultations was held on October 2017 in Dushanbe.

Inter-parliamentary cooperation is also developing, and on February 25, 2021, the first inter-parliamentary consultations were held in virtual form between the members of the Inter-parliamentary Friendship Group of Tajikistan and the United Arab Emirates.

A Tajikistan-UAE friendship group operates in the United Arab Emirates. Members of this group visit Tajikistan every year and participate in international cultural events.

The position of the two countries on important international and regional issues is close or similar, and between the two countries has been established a strong cooperation within the framework of international and regional organizations.

On February 6-9, 2023, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan Mr. Usmonali Usmonzoda visited the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates to participate in the round table on attracting capital for the implementation of the Rogun HPP project.

On September 29-30, 2023, the special representative of the President of the United Arab Emirates for Central Asia, the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of the UAE, Suhail Al-Mazrui, led a delegation of investors and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of that country to participate in the International Investment Forum "Dushanbe Invest 2023" visited the Republic of Tajikistan. During this visit, Al-Mazroui met with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan Mr. Qohir Rasulzoda and the Minister of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan Mr. Daler Juma. Also, on September 30, 2023, the "Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC - Masdar" was signed in Dushanbe.

On October 19, 2023, the meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan, Sirojiddin Muhriddin, with the Chairman of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace, Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Jarwan, who visited Tajikistan at the invitation of the Chairman of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan. The two sides discussed and agreed on the establishment of a regional office of the World Council for Tolerance and Peace in Dushanbe. Mr. Al Jarwan also met with the Chairman the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan and the rector of the Tajik National University during this visit and gave a speech to the students of this university.

November, 2023