Natural partners. “Italy has become a key strategic partner for the UAE,” Ambassador Abdulla Ali AlSubousi told Decode39, recalling the historic visit of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Rome in February, during which over $40 billion in Emirati investments were pledged to Italian sectors like infrastructure and clean energy.
- He emphasised that the visit also formalised a comprehensive India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) deal, with leaders recognising both countries as critical logistics hubs connecting Europe and Asia.
- “With our ports, our people, our vision,” AlSubousi said, “we are laying the foundation for a new era of cooperation.”
IMEC as a stabilising force. “IMEC is far more than a network of trade routes; it’s a dynamic system that binds three pivotal regions into a seamless network,” AlSubousi explained, referring to the shared vision of India, the UAE and Italy.
- He said the initiative could foster not only trade but also cultural understanding and regional stability—echoing the role of the ancient Silk Road.
- The ambassador noted that the UAE supports this vision diplomatically, citing free trade agreements such as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India and ongoing negotiations with the European Union.
Laying tracks for the future. “The UAE has made huge achievements in terms of infrastructures,” said AlSubousi, pointing to strategic investments that are building the corridor’s backbone.
- He cited a $2.3 billion railway linking the UAE to Jordan and the 900-km Etihad Rail, which connects Saudi Arabia to Oman, with key stops at major ports.
- These projects, he noted, are crucial to making IMEC a functional reality and align closely with joint investment ambitions.
