In a significant step toward deepening bilateral ties, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan hosted Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, for a high-level diplomatic visit in the capital city of Astana on 12 May, 2025. The leaders met on Monday to reinforce the rapidly growing partnership between Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates, underscored by the signing of multiple strategic agreements across key sectors.
The visit, marked by an official reception ceremony complete with a military guard of honour and the playing of both nations’ anthems, symbolized the mutual respect and long-standing friendship between the two countries. Sheikh Khaled was welcomed by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and several senior Kazakh officials upon his arrival on Sunday, accompanied by a distinguished UAE delegation of ministers and government representatives.
During their discussions, President Tokayev and Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled reaffirmed their shared commitment to fostering long-term cooperation and highlighted the high level of trust and aligned strategic objectives that define Kazakh-Emirati relations. The leaders welcomed the signing of numerous commercial and governmental agreements aimed at expanding collaboration in sectors including energy, digitalization, transport, justice, and healthcare. Among the most notable deals were:
- Energy Cooperation: A major agreement was finalized between Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s leading clean energy company, and Kazakhstan’s Samruk-Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund for the development of 24-hour power supply projects of up to 500 MW and energy storage systems reaching 2,000 MW. This builds on Masdar’s earlier 1 GW wind power agreement signed in November as part of Kazakhstan’s green energy transition.
- Digital Transformation: Agreements were signed for the digitalization of Kazakhstan’s oil and gas sector, including a strategic cooperation pact with AIQ and a deal for the creation of a supercomputer cluster with Presight.
- Transport and Infrastructure: The Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan and the UAE’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure signed a memorandum to boost road transport collaboration. Another agreement will see UAE investment in the expansion and modernization of the Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport.
- Healthcare and Education: A memorandum was signed to finance and construct the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Maternity Hospital in Turkestan, backed by the Abu Dhabi Development Fund.
- Justice and Legal Cooperation: A memorandum of cooperation was signed between the justice ministries of both nations to enhance legal and judicial collaboration.
- Financial and Investment Partnerships: The Samruk-Kazyna fund signed a memorandum with Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, fostering increased financial and investment cooperation.
President Tokayev hailed the visit as a “milestone in the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and the UAE,” emphasizing that the newly signed agreements reflect both countries’ ambitions to build robust, diversified economies. For his part, Sheikh Khaled praised Kazakhstan’s vision for economic modernization and regional connectivity, noting that the UAE stands ready to support these efforts with its expertise, capital, and innovative technologies.
The culmination of the talks was marked by a formal document exchange ceremony, highlighting the importance and breadth of the bilateral agreements. The event also saw the announcement of the ratification of a key bilateral agreement for a large-scale wind power plant, further cementing renewable energy as a cornerstone of the two countries’ cooperation. This visit continues a series of high-profile international engagements undertaken by Sheikh Khaled since his appointment as Crown Prince in March 2023. His previous diplomatic efforts have included talks with global leaders at the G20 summit and official visits across Europe and Africa.
As Kazakhstan and the UAE celebrate this renewed chapter in their relationship, both nations have signaled a clear intent to pursue sustained, long-term collaboration that contributes to regional stability, economic development, and technological advancement.
