President Vahagn Khachaturyan's working visit to the United Arab Emirates

President of the Republic Vahagn Khachaturyan delivered a speech at the Annual Investment Meeting in Abu Dhabi.

“First of all, I would like to express my appreciation to the Emirati side for organizing the Annual Investment Meeting at such a high level.

I am pleased to be in the United Arab Emirates—a reliable partner for Armenia in achieving progress in the fields of sustainable development and innovation, as well as in realizing technological potential at both regional and international levels.

I fully share the vision that investments play a vital role in addressing global pressing challenges such as climate change, poverty, and inequality. Ultimately, strengthening international cooperation is essential for promoting global financial stability and ensuring equal opportunities for all investors in the global market.

We can all agree that the current world order is changing at a rather dynamic pace, and we are living through a transformative and, in some ways, unpredictable phase of history. Every piece of information today seems to carry a negative connotation, contributing to a sense of uncertainty.

Armed conflicts, geopolitical tensions, crises, economic instability, climate threats, human rights violations, social unrest, poverty, and inequality—all of these pose serious challenges to the foundations of global stability.

We must not overlook the role of rapidly growing artificial intelligence in our modern world. It is of vital importance for improving people’s lives and building resilience in response to emerging challenges. To address these challenges effectively, we need a collective commitment—dialogue, mutually beneficial solutions, and negotiations. I would like to quote the late founding President of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan: “Unity is the path to strength, honor, and the common good.”

In the context of geopolitical shifts and the revision of previous norms, Armenia—as a peace-loving, open, democratic country with a forward-looking technological vision—is building a modern, vibrant political system and a competitive economy. Our most valuable asset is an educated, hardworking, and law-abiding society. The government, in turn, invests in the necessary infrastructure to support technological growth. We are establishing technology centers and hubs such as COAF and TUMO creative technology learning centers, which focus on developing young talent and educating a competitive generation.

It’s no secret that there is a high level of interest among our youth in high technologies, artificial intelligence, robotics, and innovation.

We offer one of the most open and attractive investment environments in the region, operating under a “open-door” policy.

Through the advancement of democracy, we are continuously strengthening a fair and competitive economic environment, the rule of law, and an independent judiciary—factors that directly contribute to a reliable, protected, and evolving investment climate.

The deep and comprehensive reforms implemented by the government in the business environment create favorable conditions for attracting foreign investments.

Armenia provides legal guarantees to foreign investors, including property protection, free movement of capital, and a transparent tax system.

In recent years, Armenia has achieved high ratings in international indexes, such as democracy, human rights protection, the fight against corruption, economic freedom, and a liberal business and investment environment. Armenia has bilateral investment protection treaties with more than 40 countries, including the United Arab Emirates.

Armenia offers several Free Economic Zones that provide favorable conditions for foreign investors. These zones offer tax benefits, simplified customs procedures, and access to regional markets.

My delegation is here with concrete investment projects, which my colleagues will present to you. We are ready for practical negotiations, the creation of joint ventures, and the exchange of experience and technologies.

At the same time, I find it important to take the opportunity to inform our partners about the existing challenges in the South Caucasus region.

Normalization of relations with neighboring countries is one of the main priorities of the Republic of Armenia.

Our country remains committed to the peace agenda, an essential component of which is the “Crossroads of Peace” project proposed by the Government of Armenia, serving as a tool for establishing peace in the region and promoting economic connections. This initiative offers a unique opportunity for regional stability, economic development, and the launch of international trade corridors.

The core idea of the project is the development of communication routes—roads, railways, pipelines, communication cables, and electricity lines—through repair, construction, and operation, ultimately creating opportunities for people-to-people contact, which is a key component of peace.

The unblocking of all regional infrastructure in the South Caucasus—based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, equality, and reciprocity—will create exceptional opportunities for the movement of goods and people.

I am confident that peace in the region has no alternative. Moreover, the South Caucasus should become a region with no closed borders, which in turn will contribute to the deepening of economic cooperation, the activation of people-to-people ties, and the overall sustainable economic growth of the entire region.” 

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Within the framework of his working visit to Abu Dhabi, President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan received at his residence (in Abu Dhabi) the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of the United Arab Emirates, Suhail Al Mazrouei, and the CEO of “Etihad Rail”, Shadi Malak.

During the meeting, the sides held comprehensive discussions on the prospects of implementing various investment programs in areas of mutual interest for both countries. Special emphasis was placed on the importance of realizing the existing potential for cooperation in key sectors such as infrastructure, energy, high technologies, and others.

Both sides highly valued the stable partnership established between Armenia and the UAE, as well as the steadily deepening cooperation, highlighting the positive dynamics in the development of bilateral relations.

During the conversation, views were exchanged regarding the implementation of the Armenian Government’s “Crossroads of Peace” project.

The meeting also addressed the need to take practical steps toward strengthening ties between the business communities of the two countries, which would contribute to the further intensification of economic relations.

The interlocutors agreed to make joint efforts toward improving the investment environment, noting that this process is essential for the economic development of both states.

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Within the framework of his working visit to the United Arab Emirates, President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan held a meeting with Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the Federal National Council of the UAE.

Welcoming the President of the Republic, the Speaker of the Federal National Council stated:

“On behalf of myself and all members of the Federal National Council, allow me to say that it is a great honor for us to host You and Your delegation.

We greatly value this visit to our country and the Federal National Council. Such visits show that there are even greater opportunities to deepen and strengthen the relations between our two countries. The Armenian people are a friendly nation.

Armenians are known for their love of peace and are held in high esteem and respect across various Arab countries. There are many Armenians in the Levant, Syria, Egypt, and other countries of the Middle East, and wherever they are, they are known for their professionalism, skills, and integrity.

We welcome You and Your country’s approach, as everything known about it indicates that You have a clear commitment to peace. Your approach aims to ensure peace and security both in Your country and regionally, and we always encourage that approach as we, too, strive to implement similar initiatives.”

Thanking for the warm reception and kind words, President Khachaturyan stated:
“Your warm welcome reflects the close friendship and partnership between our countries.

Since 1998, when our countries established diplomatic relations, our ties have experienced continuous development, as evidenced by the nearly thirty agreements we highly value, as well as the high-level reciprocal visits aimed at strengthening our relations.

For Armenia, cooperation with the United Arab Emirates holds special significance.”

During the conversation, both sides praised the established partnership and friendly relations between the two states, which continue to develop dynamically.

The sides emphasized the importance of multilateral contacts and cooperation, highlighting the advancement of parliamentary diplomacy through the framework of cooperation between the friendship groups of the two countries’ parliaments.

The promotion of mutual visits at different levels was stressed, as such interactions contribute to the expansion of cooperation.

Both sides underlined the importance of establishing peace in the region. In this context, the President of the Republic noted that Armenia has a clear stance on building relations with its neighbors based on the principles of good neighborliness and peaceful coexistence.

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As part of his working visit to the United Arab Emirates, President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan visited the Holy Martyrs Church in Abu Dhabi and met with His Eminence Archbishop Mesrop Sarkissian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of the UAE, Qatar, and the Gulf Region, as well as members of the local Armenian community.

During the visit, in a warm and informal atmosphere, President Khachaturyan became acquainted with the activities of the community.

The conversation touched upon current developments in Armenia and the region. The role of the Armenian community in preserving national identity and in contributing to the development of Armenia–UAE relations was particularly emphasized during the meeting.

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During his working visit to the United Arab Emirates, President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan visited the Embassy of Armenia in the UAE and met with Armenian students from Sorbonne and New York Universities in Abu Dhabi.

In a warm and informal conversation, President Khachaturyan inquired about the students’ academic progress, their future plans, and answered questions of concern to them.

The meeting also addressed the development of Armenia–UAE relations, as well as issues related to cooperation in the field of education.

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During his working visit to the United Arab Emirates, President of the Republic Vahagn Khachaturyan met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The UAE President welcomed the President of Armenia and expressed his gratitude for participating in the Annual Investment Meeting held in Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasized that such high-level visits reflect the strengthening of friendly relations and mutual trust between the two countries.

In turn, President Vahagn Khachaturyan thanked him for the warm reception and invitation, noting that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and the United Arab Emirates, bilateral ties have seen continuous development. As a vivid example of this, he pointed to the approximately 30 direct weekly flights between Armenia and the UAE.

During the meeting, the presidents discussed opportunities to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, particularly in infrastructure and energy. They also addressed the need to intensify necessary efforts to promote the investment environment and implement joint initiatives more effectively.

President Khachaturyan praised the UAE’s achievements in various sectors, highlighting the country’s exemplary development strategies and strategic vision. He also noted that the Abu Dhabi Annual Investment Meeting is an effective platform for fostering connections and promoting cooperation between state and business representatives, investors, and sectoral organizations.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the presidents reaffirmed their readiness to continue deepening bilateral relations and to explore new avenues of cooperation across all areas of mutual interest.

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President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan delivered a lecture at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi, titled “Armenian Crossroads of Peace: National Priorities and Global Benefits.”

During the lecture, President Khachaturyan presented the political and economic situation of the Republic of Armenia, addressed regional developments, and, in that context, discussed the opportunities and prospects of the “Crossroads of Peace” project. He emphasized that this initiative holds significant importance not only for Armenia but also for the development of the entire region.

Following the lecture, the President answered questions from students and members of the academic staff.
The President’s working visit to the United Arab Emirates has concluded.