Abu Dhabi, 8–9 December 2025 — The Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), Ambassador Kairat Sarybay, paid a working visit to Abu Dhabi to conduct consultations with the United Arab Emirates’ dignitaries.
At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, Ambassador Sarybay held an engaging meeting with H.E. Saeed bin Mubarak Al Hajeri, Minister of State in charge of the CICA portfolio. The Minister received a substantive briefing on CICA’s achievements and the priorities of the Azerbaijani Chairmanship, which are closely aligned with the UAE’s foreign policy vision. The discussions explored avenues for intensifying the UAE’s engagement in CICA’s work, including the possibility of assuming the vacant coordinator role for the implementation of CICA confidence building measures, as well as voluntary contributions to the CICA Fund and the Secretariat’s budget.
The UAE’s proactive approach to environmental cooperation, drawing on the legacy of COP29 and COP28 to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), was the primary topic of the Secretary General’s meeting with H.E. Abdulla Ahmed Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability. Mr. Balalaa positively assessed the CICA’s contribution to the UN Water Conference, to be hosted by the UAE and co-hosted by Senegal in 2026, as part of CICA’s broader environmental agenda.
Ambassador Sarybay also visited the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), a member of the CICA Think Tank Forum (TTF), where he held a fruitful meeting with the Director General, H.E. Dr. Sultan Mohammed Al-Nuaimi. The Director General was briefed on the evolution, objectives and working methods of the TTF, as well as the high added value it offers its members. Dr. Al-Nuaimi confirmed the Center’s readiness to host future TTF events and other CICA activities, providing ECSSR’s platform as a venue for outreach to interested stakeholders.
The visit to Abu Dhabi represents an important milestone in the Secretary General’s ongoing efforts to enhance CICA’s visibility among Arab Member States of the Gulf region and to broaden practical cooperation in line with the priorities of the current Azerbaijani Chairmanship.
