Photos Credit: Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia
Dubai, UAE — November 2025 — The three-day Abu Dhabi-Serbia Business Forum reinforced Abu Dhabi’s ambition to become a regional business hub and expand its global economic partnerships.
The event, organized by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, welcomed a Serbian economic delegation of more than 30 companies from key sectors, alongside officials from government entities and private enterprises of both nations.
Discussions at the forum centered on enhancing trade and investment relations, identifying cooperation opportunities in priority sectors, and strengthening overall economic ties. The event also explored new avenues for future partnerships to drive sustainable growth and mutual economic development.
This collaboration is set against a backdrop of rapidly expanding bilateral trade, with non-oil trade between the UAE and Serbia reaching approximately $98 million in 2024.
The first quarter of 2025 alone saw trade of around $23.6 million, solidifying the UAE’s position as Serbia’s second-leading trading partner among Gulf Cooperation Council countries, accounting for nearly 43 percent of Serbia’s total trade with the Gulf based on 2024 figures.
According to the UAE state-run news agency, Ali Mohamed Al Marzooqi, director-general of the Abu Dhabi Chamber, stated that the forum reflects the depth of the growing economic relations and highlights a shared commitment to developing strategic partnerships in industry, energy, technology, and food security.
“These efforts contribute to advancing sustainable development and strengthening trade and investment between the two economies,” he said.
He emphasized that this partnership represents a new phase of cooperation and reaffirms the Chamber’s dedication to supporting the business community in exploring international markets, thereby enhancing Abu Dhabi’s status as a global trade and investment hub.
Al Marzooqi also reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to its 2025-2028 roadmap, which aims to boost private sector contributions to a sustainable and competitive economy.
Echoing this sentiment, Mihailo Vesović, vice president of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, noted that economic relations are entering a new phase, accelerated by the implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement which is expected to double bilateral trade in the coming years.
He described Serbia as a strategic gateway to emerging European markets and positioned Abu Dhabi as a long-term investment partner in agriculture, industry, renewable energy, and innovation.
The forum also highlighted the strengths of Abu Dhabi’s diversified and resilient economy, which is reinforced by flexible policies, business-friendly legislation, and world-class infrastructure.
Moreover, Stevan Nikčević, state secretary at the Ministry of Domestic and Foreign Trade, said that the forum represents a continuation of the strong relations between Serbia and the UAE, especially in the fields of investment, digital technologies, and the increasingly robust foreign trade exchange.
The Serbian delegation included numerous companies such as Galenika, MicroControl, Perpetuum Gradnja, and ArthaNova, which held multiple direct meetings with Emirati partners following the plenary part of the forum.
The emirate’s strategic geographic location, connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa, solidifies its role as a leading regional hub. This appeal is further supported by a comprehensive system of incentives, including customs exemptions and efficient digital processes for business setup.
Abu Dhabi is concurrently implementing ambitious strategies to accelerate non-oil sector growth, foster innovation, and attract high-value investments in technology, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing.
These efforts dovetail with the goals of the UAE-Serbia CEPA that entered into effect in June 2025, which focuses on facilitating the exchange of goods and services and supporting the transition toward a more diversified and sustainable economy.
