Abu Dhabi — The UAE and Slovakia have taken a major step forward in their bilateral relationship following a high-level meeting on 20 October 2025 between UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
What Went On
- The meeting, held at Qasr Al Shati in Abu Dhabi, included discussions on strengthening cooperation across a range of areas: economy, trade, renewable energy, innovation, future technologies and culture.
- Prime Minister Fico conveyed the greetings of Slovak President Peter Pellegrini to the UAE leadership.
- During the meeting, both sides witnessed the signing of two important agreements: one for economic cooperation between the governments and another a memorandum of understanding (MoU) focused on investment. The UAE side was represented by Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, while Slovakia’s signatory was Vladimír Šimoňák, State Secretary at the Slovak Ministry of Economy.
- Alongside economic matters, the leaders exchanged views on regional and international developments, stressing the importance of diplomacy and dialogue in addressing global challenges.
Why It Matters
- The expanding cooperation marks a deepening of ties between the UAE and Slovakia beyond traditional diplomatic ties, entering strategic economic and innovation-oriented cooperation.
- It reinforces the UAE’s active engagement with Central and Eastern European nations, expanding its global partnership network.
- For Slovakia, alignment with the UAE offers new access to Gulf markets, investment flows and technology partnerships in sectors such as renewables and future tech.
- From the UAE’s perspective, the partnership aligns with its broader vision of diversification, innovation and strengthening global trade and investment links.
What To Watch
- Implementation of the signed agreements (economy cooperation, investment MoU): sectors identified, projects launched, timelines.
- Whether joint ventures emerge in key focus areas like renewable energy, advanced technologies or cultural exchange programmes.
- How bilateral trade and investment numbers evolve in the coming years, as the agreements aim to boost economic links.
- Additional follow-up visits or working groups to drive implementation and operationalise the strategic pledges.
This meeting signals a meaningful shift: from political‐diplomatic relations to a more tangible economic and innovation partnership between the UAE and Slovakia.