On Monday, February 24, 2025, Rome was the backdrop for a significant strengthening of relations between Italy and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through the Italy-UAE Business Forum, held at the Parco dei Principi Hotel. The event, organized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Ministries of Economy and Foreign Affairs of the UAE, the ICE Agency, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, and SACE, saw the participation of over 300 representatives from the business world, financial institutions, and trade associations from both countries.
The meeting was inaugurated by the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, and the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi. In his speech, Tajani emphasized the strategic importance of the UAE for Italy, highlighting how trade between the two nations reached 9 billion euros in the first eleven months of 2024, a 14.5% increase over the previous year. He also underscored the opportunities for collaboration in key sectors such as defense, aerospace, energy transition, advanced technologies, and healthcare.
Minister for Enterprise and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, then spoke, emphasizing the importance of increasingly close economic cooperation between the two countries, focusing on innovation and sustainability as pillars for future development.
The closing session featured the participation of the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni. In her speech, Meloni announced a plan for Emirati investments in Italy worth 40 billion dollars, describing it as “one of the most significant and substantial foreign investments in our nation’s history.” These investments will be directed towards strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy, space research, and digital infrastructure.
During the forum, more than 40 bilateral agreements were signed, including notable ones in the defense and space sectors. Italian Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, signed a cooperation agreement with the UAE, aimed at intensifying military and industrial collaboration, with the goal of promoting regional stability and strengthening the defense capabilities of both nations.
In the space sector, the Italian Space Agency (ASI) signed two Memorandums of Understanding with the UAE Space Agency (UAESA) and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC). These agreements concern the “Rashid Rover 3” mission, aimed at exploring the lunar South Pole, and the “Emirates Mission to Asteroids” (EMA), focused on asteroid exploration to better understand the origin of the Solar System. Italy will contribute with the Moon Infrared Spectrometer (MoonIS), an advanced infrared spectrometer that will be integrated into the lunar rover.
Among the Italian companies involved, Eni signed three collaboration agreements with Emirati companies, focused on the development of data centers, the transmission of renewable energy through interconnections between Albania and Italy, and the exploration of critical minerals. These projects aim to enhance digital infrastructure and ensure greater security in energy supplies and strategic raw materials.
Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) signed three new agreements with Emirati entities, focused on supporting businesses, renewable energies, and water resource management. These agreements also include joint projects in Africa, in line with the Italian government’s “Mattei Plan,” aimed at promoting sustainable development on the continent through strategic partnerships.
The event was live-streamed on the YouTube channel of the Farnesina, allowing broad participation online. This forum represents a milestone in the relations between Italy and the United Arab Emirates, marking the beginning of a new era of economic, technological, and strategic cooperation between the two countries.