UAE, Serbia Deepen Strategic Partnership on Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture
Belgrade, The Gulf Observer: Aleksandar Vučić met with Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak at the Serbia Palace in Belgrade to discuss strengthening strategic cooperation in food security and sustainable agriculture under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the United Arab Emirates and Serbia.
The meeting took place during Dr. Al Dahak’s official visit to Serbia, where she led a high-level UAE delegation comprising senior government officials and representatives from the public and private sectors. The visit aimed to enhance bilateral cooperation in food security, sustainable agriculture, and economic development.
During the discussions, both sides highlighted the growing momentum in UAE-Serbia relations and explored opportunities to expand collaboration in food security, agriculture, livestock production, and sustainable development. They also praised the achievements of Emirati companies operating in Serbia and reaffirmed their commitment to building resilient food systems through stronger cooperation under the CEPA framework.
Dr. Al Dahak said the visit reflected the deepening strategic ties between the two countries, emphasizing that sustainable and resilient food security systems remain a core pillar of the UAE-Serbia partnership.
“Through this important step, we aim to build a leading model of international cooperation that combines political vision with investment and trade capabilities, turning them into tangible projects on the ground that bring together the public and private sectors and support strong supply chains that serve the shared interests of both countries,” she said.
She further noted that the UAE continues to adopt a proactive approach centered on innovation and advanced agricultural technologies to address future food challenges. She stressed the importance of expanding cooperation with Serbian partners in research and development, seed technology, water resource management, and climate-smart agricultural practices.
The UAE delegation included officials from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, alongside senior executives from major national food and agriculture companies, including Silal, Elite Agro Holding, and Agthia Group. The delegation was accompanied by Ahmed Hatem Barghash AlMenhali.
The visit highlighted the strong progress of Emirati investments in Serbia’s agriculture sector. Investments by Al Dahra and Al Rawafed, part of Elite Agro Holding, were described as a model of sustainable partnership spanning more than 600,000 hectares of farmland.
Silal noted that its cooperation with Serbian producers has become an important pillar of the UAE’s food security strategy. Successful field trials of the Serbian barley variety “Java” in the UAE have opened new prospects for collaboration in specialised seeds and agricultural innovation.
As part of the visit, Dr. Al Dahak also held talks with Dragan Glamocic to advance bilateral cooperation in agri-technology, livestock development, water management, and agricultural trade. Discussions additionally underscored the significance of the upcoming United Nations Water Conference 2026, to be hosted by the UAE, as a platform for advancing desalination technologies.
In a separate meeting with Marko Čadež, discussions focused on promoting direct trade partnerships and developing a digital logistics ecosystem for agricultural value chains.
Dr. Al Dahak also attended the Serbia Business Summit 2026, which explored the future of economic cooperation and climate policy. The summit featured an open dialogue with Mohamed Alabbar, founder of Emaar Properties, who described Belgrade as an emerging hub for business and innovation. He announced the next phase of the Belgrade Waterfront project and highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in shaping global business and employment trends.
The UAE minister also attended the opening of the 93rd International Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad, one of Southeast Europe’s leading agricultural exhibitions, featuring more than 1,200 exhibitors from around 40 countries showcasing advanced agricultural technologies and sustainable farming solutions.
The visit concluded with field tours of Serbia’s leading agricultural and research centers, including the Zobnatica Agricultural Centre, highlighting the role of Emirati investments in promoting sustainable food production, innovation, and long-term agricultural cooperation between the UAE and Serbia.
