Georgian PM lauds UAE partnership, $6.6 billion EMAAR investment for economic growth

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday hailed the strong partnership with the United Arab Emirates, highlighting a USD 6.6 billion investment from EMAAR Group expected to boost Georgia’s GDP by at least 1.5% annually, while praising the UAE’s transformative progress as a model for Georgia’s development.

In his interview with the UAE publication Gulf News, Kobakhidze underscored the UAE’s remarkable development as an inspiration for Georgia, particularly in implementing reforms, fostering tourism, and enhancing cooperation across sectors to drive progress in cities like Tbilisi and Batumi.

“I have visited the UAE twice: first for an official state visit, and then for the signing of the memorandum of understanding regarding EMAAR Group’s USD 6.6 billion investment. This investment will boost economic development, representing at least 1.5% of annual GDP. We look forward to the development of this project, especially around Tbilisi and Batumi”, Kobakhidze said.

“We are proud of having excellent cooperation, strong partnerships and shared values with the UAE. The deal makes our ties stronger, and the UAE is an excellent example of a nation from which we can learn”, he continued.

The Prime Minister highlighted the UAE’s unparalleled progress as a global example, urging Georgia to study its reforms and leadership to achieve similar success.

“Nowhere has the world seen the kind of progress achieved by the UAE in the last few years, marked by dramatic and impressive changes. To achieve this progress, we have to examine the key pillars of the reforms and changes they implemented. We are grateful for the excellent cooperation we have with them. It is crucial to study all aspects of their progress, given the remarkable leadership of the UAE, which has successfully realised its national vision. The UAE’s leaders are deeply committed to their people and have worked tirelessly to open up the country to development; we must learn from that”, he noted.

Kobakhidze further emphasised the importance of continued cooperation in investment and tourism to further national development.

“We will continue to enthusiastically promote our cooperation. In terms of cooperation, there is a significant interest in various areas, especially for investment. Tourism is a key area of Georgia's development, and we are happy to see that numbers are increasing permanently. We are partnering across various sectors to drive progress and will continue working on improvements”, the PM concluded.