Georgia is returning to the international diplomatic stage as Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze travels to the United Arab Emirates to participate in the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit, held from January 13 to 15.

The summit brings together political leaders, senior officials, and global business representatives to discuss sustainable development, energy policy, and investment. Within this framework, the Georgian Prime Minister is scheduled to take part in a thematic panel focused on the Middle Corridor — a transport and energy route linking Europe and Asia that has become a central pillar of Georgia’s foreign policy and economic strategy.

According to the government administration, Kobakhidze is also expected to meet with representatives of major international investment companies. The visit marks Georgia’s first high-level diplomatic engagement in recent weeks, following a period of limited foreign policy visibility and few notable bilateral initiatives.

Georgia has increasingly positioned the Middle Corridor as a strategic alternative route for trade and energy flows between Europe and Asia, presenting itself as a regional transit hub. However, the corridor faces growing competition from parallel routes promoted by neighboring countries, intensifying competition for cargo volumes, political support, and foreign investment.

This competitive environment has elevated the importance of partnerships with Gulf states, particularly the United Arab Emirates. Georgian authorities have previously highlighted announced plans by the Abu Dhabi-based company Eagle Hills to invest up to six billion dollars in Georgia, citing the project as an indicator of investor interest, while its scale, timeline, and implementation remain under scrutiny.

Prime Minister Kobakhidze is accompanied by a delegation including the ministers of foreign affairs, economy and sustainable development, environment and agriculture, justice, and the head of the government administration, underscoring the government’s focus on economic diplomacy.

The Abu Dhabi visit comes as Georgia continues to center much of its foreign policy narrative on the Middle Corridor, raising questions about how effectively the country can translate strategic positioning into long-term regional relevance in an increasingly competitive geopolitical landscape.

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