UAE State Minister hails opening of Tbilisi Dry Port as a major step in strengthening East-West trade corridor
Ahmed Al Sayegh
Photo: Georgian Government
Ahmed Al Sayegh, the State Minister of the United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday said the newly inaugurated Tbilisi Dry Port was poised to significantly enhance trade not only with Georgia and Central Asia but also to strengthen commercial connectivity along the East-West corridor, leading to a substantial increase in overall trade volume.
In his address at the opening ceremony of the Tbilisi Dry Port, Sayegh noted that the Dry Port project was an example of a successful partnership between the United Arab Emirates and Georgia.
“We are facilitating the movement of industrial and consumer goods from Asia - including China and Central Asia - towards Europe and vice versa. This effort is guided by the leadership of both countries. Our deepening strategic and global partnership with Georgia reflects shared visions, common values, and a mutual spirit of building a sustainable and beneficial trade relationship. It is a partnership rooted in peace, progress, and long-term stability”, the State Minister said.
“The Tbilisi Dry Port is a combination of the strong partnership and agreement that we signed in Georgia - Memorandum of Understanding - and aims to double trade from $480 million to $1.5 billion over the next five years. Based on our cooperation, this trade will be based on special tariffs, 95 percent of goods will be transported through this port and Georgia’s trade partnership with the whole world will be strengthened”, he continued.
He further added that the investment of Abu Dhabi Ports Group in the port indicated growing cooperation with Georgia.
Sayegh expressed the United Arab Emirates' expectations for further investments in Georgia and noted “we are doing everything we can to find new opportunities together with the Georgian Government to implement these investments”.
“Georgia, in addition to being a country with many investment opportunities, is also a source of great talent, which allows us to make our cooperation even more successful. Once again, many thanks to the Georgian Government for its support and assistance to investors from the United Arab Emirates”, he concluded.
All News
20 September 2026, 13:52
Politics
Georgian FM: UN General Assembly to provide platform for Georgia to present key messages
Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili said on Sunday that the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly would provide Georgia’s delegation with an opportunity to present the country’s key messages on the international stage.
20 September 2026, 13:51
Politics
Georgia’s ruling party official: all decisions concerning Georgia made in Georgia
Levan Machavariani, the First Deputy Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream parliamentary faction, said on Saturday that Georgia currently makes all decisions concerning the country domestically, describing the restoration and protection of national sovereignty as a key priority of the Government.
20 September 2026, 13:14
Politics
Georgia’s ruling party official: EU needs Georgia as much as Georgia needs EU
Levan Machavariani, the First Deputy Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream parliamentary faction, said on Saturday that the European Union’s interest in Georgia had grown due to the country’s strategic geographic location and its role in the Middle Corridor.
20 September 2026, 13:08
Politics
Georgia’s ruling party official says strategic value of Middle Corridor will drive EU-Georgia engagement
Levan Machavariani, the First Deputy Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream parliamentary faction, said on Saturday that the growing strategic importance of the Middle Corridor would ultimately require the European Union to engage directly with Georgia, arguing that relations with European institutions could be reset once they recognised what he described as the country’s political reality.
20 September 2026, 12:58
Politics
Georgian PM set for UN General Assembly address, meeting with Guterres
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze will participate in the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he is scheduled to address the General Debate on September 24.
19 September 2026, 16:40
Politics
Georgian PM highlights record agri-food exports, growing youth interest in agriculture
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Saturday said Georgian agri-food products were strengthening their position in international markets, with exports to more than 110 countries reaching a historic record of $1.845 billion last year.
19 September 2026, 16:19
Politics
Georgia’s ruling party Sec Gen says deliberate online bullying, insults subject to legal action as domestic opposition activist faces proceedings in Germany over Facebook post
Kakha Kaladze, Mayor of Tbilisi and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said on Saturday that deliberate bullying and insulting behaviour on social media was subject to legal action, commenting on reports that criminal proceedings had been opened in Berlin against Georgian opposition activist Nata Peradze over a Facebook post.
19 September 2026, 12:30
Politics
Georgian PM: largest IDP housing project to date provides apartments to 1 600 families
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Saturday said that 1 600 internally displaced families would receive newly renovated apartments in Tbilisi, describing the development as the largest housing project of its kind implemented to date and reaffirming the Government’s commitment to providing displaced families with decent living conditions.
19 September 2026, 12:09
Justice
Foreign national arrested on drug smuggling charges at Georgia border crossing
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia on Saturday said law enforcement officers had arrested a foreign citizen after up to 12 kilograms of marijuana were allegedly discovered concealed inside a truck at the Lagodekhi border crossing.
19 September 2026, 12:06
Politics
Georgian PM: restoring territorial integrity through peaceful means remains Government’s top priority
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Saturday said restoring the country’s territorial integrity through peaceful means remained the Government’s foremost national objective, stressing that patience, consistency and pragmatic policies were essential to achieving this goal.
18 September 2026, 21:46
Politics
Georgian PM highlights economic growth, focus on sustainable and inclusive development
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on Friday that Georgia has recorded one of the highest average economic growth rates in the world over the past five years, while emphasising that the main challenge is to translate this performance into sustainable, inclusive and long-term development.
18 September 2026, 19:36
Society
UN Tourism Secretary General: Kutaisi visit provided insights for upcoming innovation summit
UN Tourism Secretary General Shaikha Al Nuwais said on Friday that her visit to the Kutaisi Technology Hub came at an important time as preparations were underway for an Innovation Summit to be held in Kutaisi under the auspices of UN Tourism and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
18 September 2026, 19:27
Economy
Georgian National Bank Governor: Georgia becomes first in region to convene Central Bank roundtable with 15 countries
Natia Turnava, the Governor of the National Bank of Georgia, on Friday said that Georgia has become the first country in the region to host a roundtable meeting bringing together senior officials from the central banks of up to 15 countries.
18 September 2026, 18:45
Economy
Georgian Economy Minister: Georgia will host UN Tourism Innovation Forum at Kutaisi Technology Hub in 2027
Georgian Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili on Friday said that Georgia would host the UN Tourism Innovation Forum at the Kutaisi Technology Hub in 2027, under the auspices of the UN Tourism Organization.
18 September 2026, 18:43
Foreign policy
European Union rejects illegal “elections” in Russian-occupied Tskhinval region, reiterates support for Georgia’s territorial integrity
The European Union has rejected the so-called presidential elections held in Georgia’s Russian-occupied region of South Ossetia on Friday, saying it does not recognise the legal framework under which the vote was organised and considers its outcome null and void.
18 September 2026, 18:31
Foreign policy
Georgian Foreign Affairs Ministry condemns illegal so-called elections in Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region
The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the so-called presidential elections held in the occupied Tskhinvali region on Friday, noting that they are contrary to international law and cannot confer legitimacy on the occupation regime.
18 September 2026, 16:57
Politics
Georgian PM welcomes Council of Europe Ministers’ decisions on Georgia-Russia cases
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday welcomed the decision of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers concerning interstate cases brought by Georgia against Russia, saying it reflected the Government’s efforts to protect the country’s national interests.
18 September 2026, 16:51
Foreign policy
Georgia and Nauru to establish diplomatic relations
Georgia and the Republic of Nauru are set to establish diplomatic relations.
18 September 2026, 16:20
Economy
Georgian PM: Georgia maintains strong economic growth despite regional challenges
Georgia’s economic growth stood at 7.9% in the first seven months of the year, indicating that the country has maintained the pace of economic development recorded since 2021, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on Friday.
18 September 2026, 15:59
Politics
Georgian PM: US moves to strengthen transparency legislation absolutely understandable
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said claims that transparency was contrary to democracy were “complete absurdity”, stressing that the new US administration was itself introducing clearer provisions into its transparency legislation.