UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visits Albania, signs key cooperation agreements
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama welcomed the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to Tirana on Sunday, in a high-level visit aimed at strengthening economic and strategic ties between the two nations. This is the first visit of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed to Albania as UAE President, leading a senior delegation.
The visit included an official welcoming ceremony at the Palace of Brigades, followed by a one-on-one meeting between the two leaders. During the visit, both countries signed multiple cooperation agreements covering energy, infrastructure, and security.
Why is this important: Albania has set an ambitious goal to become a net energy exporter by 2030. The country, along with Norway, is one of the two European nations generating electricity entirely from renewable sources. A new joint energy venture with Masdar signed during the visit, aims to support Albania’s long-term energy strategy, and expand its role in regional energy markets.
Context: The UAE’s partnership with Albania has strengthened in recent years, particularly in energy and infrastructure investments. The visit follows a broader trilateral energy cooperation agreement between Albania, UAE, and Italy, which was formalized on January 15, 2025, in Dubai. The agreement outlines the construction of an undersea interconnection line in the Adriatic Sea, linking Albania’s energy grid with Italy.
Key agreements:
- Renewable Energy Partnership: Albania’s state-owned energy corporation KESH and UAE’s Masdar will establish a joint company to develop renewable energy projects, targeting an increase in energy production capacity up to 10GW. The agreement was signed by Albania’s Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku, and Masdar’s Chairman, Sultan Al Jaber.
- Albania Smart City Project: A Letter of Commitment for the Albania Smart City initiative was signed between Presight AI Ltd and the Albanian Ministry of the Interior. The project includes an advanced nationwide monitoring system, integrating AI technology for traffic monitoring and crime prevention. The deal comes with a €118 million loan on favorable terms.
What’s next: The undersea interconnection project, valued at €1 billion, is expected to be completed within three years. The strategic initiative will enhance Albania’s role in Europe’s renewable energy sector and further integrate the country into the EU’s electricity market.
Albania’s growing cooperation with the UAE is seen as a critical step toward modernizing infrastructure, boosting energy security, and positioning the country as a hub for sustainable development and digital innovation.
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