YSU researcher’s article on development paths for Armenia–UAE partnership relations published in high-ranking academic journal

Mushegh Ghahriyan, PhD in History and researcher at YSU Institute for Armenian Studies, begins his study with Armenia’s year of independence—1991—as the starting point, analyzing developments up to 2024. In his article, Ghahriyan examines the key areas of Armenia–UAE cooperation, the challenges that have emerged, and the opportunities that lie ahead.

"During the years of the Artsakh War, many countries were reluctant to establish official diplomatic ties with Armenia. As a result, diplomatic relations between Armenia and the UAE, as well as with several other Arab states, were only formed after 1994–1995. Armenia and the UAE officially established diplomatic relations in 1998, alongside the activation of business and trade relations," Mushegh Ghahriyan noted. He emphasized that economic and political cooperation between Armenia and the UAE has developed in parallel.

"As economic cooperation deepened, it became necessary to expand and update the legal-contractual framework and to strengthen political relations. In turn, the deepening of political ties also fostered the development of economic cooperation and widened the areas of partnership," he added.

According to the young scholar, relations between the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf and the South Caucasus states have progressed steadily, though at a slow pace.

"One reason is that the development of mutually beneficial political and economic relations has not been seen as an urgent priority for either Armenia or the Persian Gulf states. Other obstacles included structural issues in the respective economies. Most Gulf states are oil-exporting countries, while in the South Caucasus, extractive industries have also been dominant, but with different export markets. As a result, there was limited capacity to offer each other a wide range of goods," Mushegh Ghahriyan explained.

Turning to developments in the past five years, the researcher highlighted that the UAE has gradually become one of Armenia’s leading trade partners, ranking among the top five. Key areas of cooperation include the trade, export, and re-export of metals, precious stones, and technical equipment.

"In recent years, the UAE has taken significant steps to diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on oil revenues. In this context, it has been actively investing in the development of renewable energy—an important component of its international image. The UAE is investing in this sector not only within its own borders, but also in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. It positions itself globally as a leader in combating climate change and promoting the transition to renewable energy," Mushegh Ghahriyan pointed out.

In this regard, he noted that in 2024, the UAE signed a strategic partnership agreement with Azerbaijan.

"Both countries are collaborating and positioning themselves as key actors in the fight against climate change and as promoters of renewable energy development. Also in 2024, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and Georgia entered into force," he stated, adding that there is also potential for a strategic partnership between Armenia and the UAE, through joint initiatives in renewable energy, high technology, and other sectors that align with the UAE’s interests.

"The UAE also serves as a major regional hub for both maritime and air transportation, connecting East Asia, North and South America, and other regions. Its airlines compete with those based in Doha and Istanbul in terms of passenger traffic, and they are actively engaged in air connectivity with the countries of the South Caucasus," Mushegh Ghahriyan added.

In his article, the researcher concludes that while Armenia and the UAE have made steady progress in expanding their partnership across various sectors, their cooperation has yet to be developed to a sufficient level. Nevertheless, there remains considerable potential to further deepen and broaden their bilateral relations.