Uzbekistan’s Deputy Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade, Shohrukh Gulyamov, held a series of structured meetings with leading UAE companies on the sidelines of the Investopia Bridge 2026 Forum in Abu Dhabi, advancing investment frameworks across water infrastructure, gas transportation, logistics and urban development. The talks produced an extended cooperation agreement on water treatment facilities for New Tashkent and opened discussions on UAE participation in the Trans-Afghan Transport Corridor.
The forum provided the setting for a broader bilateral agenda that also included a dedicated business roundtable titled UAE–Uzbekistan: Connecting Capital with Opportunity, where investment opportunities in energy, digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, finance, agriculture, tourism and transport were discussed, alongside potential participation in privatisation and infrastructure projects.
New Tashkent water treatment agreement extended
The most concrete outcome from the meetings was the extension of an existing agreement with TAQA Water Solutions for the joint development of water treatment facilities in New Tashkent. The parties discussed both the construction and operation phases of the project, though no financial figures or completion timeline were disclosed publicly.
New Tashkent, the large-scale urban development project under construction on the outskirts of the capital, requires dedicated utility infrastructure to support its planned residential and commercial zones. The extension of the TAQA agreement signals that the water supply component remains an active priority, though the project has not yet moved to a formal procurement or financing stage based on available information.
AD Ports Group and the Trans-Afghan corridor
Discussions with AD Ports Group — the Abu Dhabi-based port and logistics operator — covered the digitalisation of logistics operations and the establishment of a trade and logistics hub. Notably, the talks also addressed potential UAE participation in developing the Trans-Afghan Transport Corridor, a route that would connect Central Asia to South Asian markets via Afghanistan.
The Trans-Afghan corridor has been a recurring subject in Uzbekistan’s regional connectivity agenda, with Tashkent positioning itself as a key transit node. AD Ports Group’s potential involvement would bring significant operational and financial capacity to the project, though the discussions remain at an exploratory stage and no terms have been agreed.
Islamic and export financing for gas transportation
Gulyamov’s meeting with First Abu Dhabi Bank focused on financing structures for gas transportation projects, support for Uzbekistan’s banking sector, and the application of Islamic and export financing instruments. The inclusion of Islamic finance instruments is notable given Uzbekistan’s efforts in recent years to develop a regulatory framework for Sharia-compliant financial products, which could open access to a broader pool of Gulf capital for infrastructure investment.
No specific project values or loan structures were announced following the meeting. The parties outlined next steps to prepare investment proposals and agree on financial and technical terms, suggesting the discussions are still in a pre-feasibility phase.
Urban development and a new working group with Modon
Gulyamov also met with representatives of Modon, the Abu Dhabi-based urban development company, to discuss potential projects in Uzbekistan. The two sides agreed to establish a joint working group to develop the proposals further. Modon’s involvement in Uzbekistan would mark an expansion of UAE real estate and urban planning expertise into the country’s growing development pipeline, though no specific sites or investment figures were disclosed.
Institutional coordination to be strengthened
Across all the meetings, the parties agreed to strengthen institutional coordination through the Uzbekistan-UAE Intergovernmental Commission and Business Council, with an explicit focus on moving specific joint initiatives toward practical implementation. The next steps identified include preparing investment proposals and agreeing on financial and technical terms for each of the sectors discussed.
The Abu Dhabi meetings represent the latest in a sustained series of high-level engagements between Tashkent and UAE entities. While the outcomes remain largely at the framework and working-group stage, the breadth of sectors covered — from municipal water supply to international transport corridors — reflects the scale of infrastructure investment Uzbekistan is seeking to mobilise from Gulf partners.
