Uzbekistan, UAE discuss $5 billion energy portfolio and new water projects

Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates are set to deepen their strategic partnership across multiple sectors, with the UAE's national railway network, Etihad Rail, exploring a potential role in the Trans – Afghan railway project.

Photo: LinkedIn / Jamshid Khodjaev

The development was shared by Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev following high-level negotiations in Abu Dhabi.

The Trans – Afghan railway is a landmark infrastructure project designed to connect Uzbekistan and Pakistan via Afghanistan, creating a vital trade corridor for the region. During talks with Etihad Rail CEO Shadi Malak, both parties discussed how the Emirati company’s expertise could be leveraged to advance this ambitious transport link.

The discussions in Abu Dhabi formed part of a wider diplomatic mission focused on investment, energy, logistics, and the chemical industry. Meeting with the UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Suhail Al Mazrouei, Khodjaev highlighted that the UAE remains a primary partner in Uzbekistan’s energy transition. The current portfolio of joint projects with companies such as Masdar and AMEA Power already exceeds $5 billion. Notable successes include the privatization of the Talimarjan Thermal Power Plant with TAQA and a recent agreement to construct a solar power plant capable of 24-hour generation.

Water infrastructure also featured prominently on the agenda. Negotiations with Nader Asad bin Taher, Acting CEO of TAQA Water Solutions, centered on two major initiatives: the construction of a wastewater treatment plant with a capacity of 300,000 cubic meters per day and the development of a 65 km water supply network stretching from the Ugam River to the New Tashkent district.

In the chemical and mining sectors, Uzbekistan is looking to attract Emirati investment for specialized production. Specifically, talks with Ta’ziz CEO Mashal Saoud Al Kindi focused on a strategic partnership to produce phosphorus fertilizers in the Samarkand region. Meanwhile, meetings with L’imad Holding and Plenary explored broader opportunities in state-private partnerships and the financial sector.

The visit also addressed social cooperation, with discussions held alongside Abdulrahman Al Awar, the UAE Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation. Both nations aim to enhance academic exchanges and specialized training programs to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in Uzbekistan.

Commenting on the mission, Khodjaev noted that the dialogue in Abu Dhabi confirmed a mutual readiness to transform high-level agreements into long-term, concrete projects that will drive economic growth for both nations.