The United Arab Emirates sees Cyprus and the wider Mediterranean as strategic partners in building a resilient and innovation-driven regional economy, UAE minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said on Tuesday in Limassol.

Speaking during a panel discussion at the Investopia Global Mediterranean Forum, Al Marri described the relationship as one grounded in proximity and shared heritage.

“We are only three hours’ flight away,” he said, referring to the geographical, cultural and historical ties between the regions.

“We need a foundation on which we can stand,” he added.

He pointed to the need for closer alignment in areas that support economic diversification and long-term resilience, such as energy, infrastructure, digitalisation, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and artificial intelligence.

“We need forms of convergence that will bring the Gulf Cooperation Council, not just the UAE, closer to the Mediterranean. I believe this has never happened before,” he said.

The minister underlined the growing presence of Cypriot investors in the UAE and the Gulf, noting that the relationship was reciprocal.

“Last night, at the official dinner, I spoke with Cypriots who have already invested in the UAE and the Gulf. Several people have told me they are considering opening offices there,” he said. “This is not a one-sided relationship, it is a system of mutual cooperation that really works.”

He described the current momentum as the beginning of a strategic alliance.

“Everyone in this room has either invested, is considering investing, or is seriously considering it. It is an opportunity for all of us, not just the UAE, but the entire Gulf Cooperation Council,  to see the Mediterranean as a strategic investment partner,” he said.

Particular emphasis was placed on energy connectivity.

“It is not just energy production, but also its transportation,” Al Marri said, calling high-voltage transmission “one of the biggest challenges we have ahead of us.”

He added that this was a key area for cross-border collaboration between the Gulf and the Mediterranean.

He also introduced the Investopia platform, describing it as a response to global shifts and a tool for promoting what he called “new economies” across digitalisation, tourism, supply chains and other digitally driven sectors.

The forum, held at the Parklane Resort, was organised by IMH under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy, and the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve), with Invest Cyprus as strategic partner.