UAE reaches 26 trade agreements under economic partnership initiative

RIYADH: Global supply chain players including Maersk, Panattoni, and JD Property signed agreements with Saudi entities at Transport Logistic 2025, underscoring the Kingdom’s emergence as a key player in the sector.

The deals — involving partnerships with firms such as GFS Express, Hefei Logistics Group, Scan Global, and Koppern — were unveiled as part of Saudi Arabia’s expansive presence at the trade fair, held in Munich, Germany.

Led by the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program and Invest Saudi, the Kingdom’s pavilion brought together 22 key government and private sector stakeholders.

Saudi Arabia has emerged as a central hub in the global logistics sector, with its market valued at $136.3 billion in 2024. It is also projected to grow at an annual rate of 6.5 percent, reaching $198.9 billion by 2030, according to Eurogroup Consulting. 

“From hosting tech giants like Apple and iHerb in smart hubs to launching our national car Ceer, Saudi Arabia is becoming an industrial and automotive powerhouse,” said Suliman Al-Mazroua, CEO of NIDLP, according to a post on the organization’s official X account. 

He added: “This isn’t just our story, it’s an invitation to dreamers and innovators. The future is happening now.” 

Speaking at the three-day event that started on June 3, Al-Mazroua highlighted Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification success.  

“For the first time in our history, non-oil activities contribute 55 percent of Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product. This isn’t a future target, it’s today’s reality,” he said. 

Key deals signed 

The first day of the exhibition witnessed the signing of several strategic agreements aimed at strengthening Saudi Arabia’s logistics capabilities and fostering international cooperation. 

Among the key deals, GFS Express and Hefei Logistics Group inked a memorandum of understanding to enhance logistics collaboration and develop innovative supply chain solutions. 

SAL partnered with GCL to create specialized logistics solutions for the entertainment, sports, and arts sectors. 

MODON and JD Property agreed to work on advanced logistics infrastructure and the localization of tech solutions, while JTM, Silk Mile, and Assaat formed an investment partnership to establish a logistics joint venture in the Kingdom. 

MODON signed an MoU with US-based Panattoni to develop a logistics project in Jeddah, boosting supply chain efficiency. 

Further agreements included SPL, Scan Global, and Maersk collaborating to enhance air freight, delivery solutions, and digital logistics infrastructure, as well as NIDLP partnering with Germany’s Koppern to explore the localization of roller press systems and compaction machines. 

The Saudi pavilion attracted strong interest from global investors, industry leaders, and technology partners as it highlighted the Kingdom’s achievements in transport, logistics, and industrial development.

These developments align with Saudi Vision 2030 goals to position the country as a leading global logistics hub connecting three continents. 

The event featured six specialized workshops covering infrastructure, digital transformation, and human capital development. A key session, “It’s Happening: Saudi Logistics Now,” emphasized the Kingdom’s logistics transformation through public-private partnerships.  

Saudi Arabia continued to demonstrate its commitment to becoming a top-tier logistics and industrial destination, attracting global investors and innovators to join its growth journey. 

TASHKENT: As Uzbekistan undergoes an economic transformation, tourism has emerged as both a cultural ambassador and a powerful growth engine.

At the forefront is Umid Rustamovich Shadiyev, chairman of the Tourism Committee under the Ministry of Ecology. 

Formerly Uzbekistan’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Shadiyev brings both diplomatic experience and a deep understanding of the nation’s rich heritage. 

Arab News spoke with Shadiyev during the Tashkent International Investment Forum 2025, a flagship platform bringing together global investors, policymakers, and innovators to explore Uzbekistan’s investment landscape. 

Now in its fourth edition, the forum has become a cornerstone of the country’s reform agenda, highlighting strategic sectors such as energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and tourism. 

This year’s event welcomed over 2,500 delegates from 70 countries, with tourism receiving special focus as a driver of inclusive and sustainable development. 

Saudi-Uzbek tourism ties deepen 

The conversation turned to Saudi Arabia, where tourism is undergoing a historic transformation under Vision 2030. Shadiyev praised the Kingdom’s diversification efforts, calling it “a new center of global tourism.” 

Uzbekistan sees an opportunity for synergy, and a memorandum of cooperation in tourism was signed in 2022, followed by joint forums and high-level meetings in 2023 and 2024. 

“Our relationship with Saudi Arabia is growing stronger each year,” said the official. 

The results are visible. Saudi tourist arrivals in Uzbekistan rose from 1,731 in 2022 to over 4,100 in 2024, reflecting growing interest in cultural, gastronomic, and mountain tourism. 

“There’s huge potential in developing family-oriented tours, heritage trails, and collaborative media campaigns,” Shadiyev noted.

Tourism university exchanges, journalist visits, and influencer collaborations are also being explored. 

In 2025, Uzbekistan is emphasizing sustainable tourism and aims to increase the average stay of foreign visitors to 10 to 12 days. Strategic partnerships — such as with Saudi Arabia — are seen as central to achieving this goal. 

Tourism emerges as economic pillar 

“Tourism is currently one of the key sectors of Uzbekistan’s economy,” Shadiyev noted. “In 2024, we saw a significant leap forward: the export of tourism services increased by 1.6 times, reaching $3.5 billion.”  

This performance is backed by a rise in entrepreneurship, with more than 2,000 new tourism businesses launched in the past year alone. From boutique hotels to eco-lodges and cultural tour operators, a new generation of investors is responding to supportive government policies and the sector’s strong profitability. 

The transformation is evident across the country. Over the past eight years, Uzbekistan has attracted $6.5 billion in tourism-related investments and added 130,000 new hotel beds. 

“These achievements reflect our commitment to building a world-class tourism ecosystem,” Shadiyev said. 

A major milestone came in April, when over 1 million foreign tourists visited Uzbekistan in a single month — a national record. 

Shadiyev attributes this growth to visa policy reforms, infrastructure upgrades, and active global engagement. “We’re not only opening our doors wider; we’re creating lasting experiences for visitors,” he said. 

Looking ahead, Uzbekistan aims to further increase both international arrivals and tourism export volumes in 2025. The government is systematically working toward these goals by investing in digital transformation, human capital, and diversified tourism offerings. 

Four seasons, one destination 

Positioned at the crossroads of the Great Silk Road, Uzbekistan has long served as a bridge between East and West. Shadiyev highlighted the country’s unique geographic and cultural positioning: “We’re the heart of Central Asia — no regional tour is complete without including Uzbekistan.”  

What makes Uzbekistan truly special, he said, is its year-round appeal. In spring, visitors celebrate Navruz, the festival of renewal, and explore blooming gardens, vibrant bazaars, and the historic cities of Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva.

Summer brings tourists to mountain resorts and natural lakes, rich fruit harvests, and traditional crafts festivals. 

Winter offers skiing and tranquil nature retreats, while autumn is ideal for cultural immersion and warm Uzbek hospitality.

“Every season offers a new story, a new flavor,” Shadiyev said.  

The country’s legacy is underscored by its many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. Uzbekistan is also witnessing a boom in niche tourism markets, including ziyarat, or pilgrimage tourism, ecotourism, domestic travel, and culinary tours. 

Uzbekistan’s rise on the global travel radar is also backed by international accolades.

The country was named the Most Desirable Emerging Destination by Wanderlust, UK; won the tourism in the CIS award from Russian Traveler; and was featured among the Top 25 Destinations of 2025 by both BBC Travel and The New York Times.  

Gulf travelers drawn to shared culture 

When asked about Uzbekistan’s appeal to Arab travelers, particularly from the Gulf region, Shadiyev emphasized deep-rooted cultural and spiritual ties. 

“Our shared Islamic heritage and atmosphere of religious respect make Uzbekistan especially attractive to Gulf visitors,” he said. 

Khiva’s designation as the 2024 Tourism Capital of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation reflects this connection. 

Other key events include the Economic Cooperation Organization’s tourism forum in Shakhrisabz, which spotlighted opportunities in religious and cultural travel. 

Uzbekistan is enhancing its appeal through substance and strategy. 

A 30-day visa-free regime now applies to citizens of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, as well as those of Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

Direct flights from Gulf capitals are expanding, and tour operators are curating experiences tailored to Arab travelers. 

The country offers a rich mix of gastronomy — including signature dishes like plov, manti, and shurpa — as well as ethno-tourism experiences in traditional villages, and a vibrant calendar of music, art, and food festivals.

Uzbekistan is also rolling out a UN tourism platform and a unified tourist card integrating visa services, tickets, and discounts. 

“We’re not just promoting Uzbekistan; we’re building a seamless visitor experience,” Shadiyev added. 

Vision rooted in heritage and openness 

As the interview concluded, Shadiyev returned to a theme central to Uzbekistan’s tourism push: openness. “We are a country that welcomes the world — with history in our stones and hospitality in our hearts,” he said. 

The Tashkent International Investment Forum served as the perfect setting for this conversation, reflecting Uzbekistan’s economic momentum and its growing network of global partnerships — none more vibrant than those flourishing through tourism. 

As Shadiyev put it, quoting an old proverb: “It’s better to see something once than hear about it a hundred times.”