Interview with AZERTAC: The UAE–Azerbaijan partnership, from solar power to hydrogen
Dr. Salem Alketbi was a guest on Azerbaijan and the World, a program by Azerbaijan’s state news agency AZERTAC, in an episode published on June 5, 2026, titled “Baku and Abu Dhabi take their strategic partnership to a new level.” Host Tamilla Mammadova asked him about UAE–Azerbaijan relations amid the changes in the Middle East and the South Caucasus, and about cooperation in solar power and the prospects for hydrogen.
Episode chapters
- 00:39 · How relations are evolving amid changes in the Middle East and the South Caucasus
- 00:50 · A more strategic and institutional partnership: the Baku meeting and the 2025–2029 road map
- 01:45 · Common ground between the UAE climate strategy and Azerbaijan’s energy policy
- 01:59 · Solar projects already under way, and hydrogen as the next step
Highlights from the interview
“UAE-Azerbaijan relations are becoming more strategic and more institutional at the same time.”
“The relationship is no longer limited to diplomacy; it now includes economic cooperation, defense, law enforcement, education, technology… which means the partnership now has a particular structure and clear priority projects.”
“The common ground is very clear: both countries want to remain important energy players while moving seriously into clean energy.”
“The solar cooperation is already real, while hydrogen is the next logical step… The hydrogen projects are realistic, but they will depend on financing, infrastructure, and export planning over the medium term.”
Watch the episode on AZERTAC →
AZERTAC’s written report on the episode: “Azerbaijan and the World”: Baku and Abu Dhabi take their strategic partnership to a new level (June 5, 2026).
Full transcript of the interview
Lightly edited for readability.
Tamilla Mammadova (Host) — 00:00
Good afternoon. You’re watching another edition of the program Azerbaijan and the World. And today, our guest is UAE-based political analyst Mr. Salem Alketbi. Hello, and welcome to our program. We’re pleased to have you with us. We would like to hear your views on two important issues.
Dr. Salem Alketbi — 00:28
Thank you very much for having me on this podcast. It is a pleasure to join you and briefly discuss the growing relationship between the UAE and Azerbaijan at an important regional moment.
Tamilla Mammadova — 00:39
How do you assess the current dynamics of relations between the UAE and Azerbaijan in the context of the changing architecture of the Middle East and the South Caucasus?
Dr. Salem Alketbi — 00:50
UAE-Azerbaijan relations are becoming more strategic and more institutional at the same time. The best proof is that the second meeting of the Strategic Partnership Cooperation Committee was held in Baku on 28 to 29 April 2026, showing that both sides are building regular mechanisms for long-term cooperation.
The relationship is no longer limited to diplomacy; it now includes economic cooperation, defense, law enforcement, education, technology, and so on. The two sides reviewed the implementation of the 2025–2029 road map, which means the partnership now has a particular structure and clear priority projects.
Tamilla Mammadova — 01:45
What common ground do you see between the UAE climate strategy and Azerbaijan’s energy policy? How realistic is the development of joint hydrogen energy projects or solar parks between Baku and Abu Dhabi?
Dr. Salem Alketbi — 01:59
The common ground is very clear: both countries want to remain important energy players while moving seriously into clean energy. This is why energy and sustainability were discussed again in the latest strategic partnership meeting in Baku.
In practical terms, cooperation is already happening. Masdar, a UAE company, and SOCAR Green reached financial close in November 2024 for about 760 megawatts of solar projects in Bilasuvar and Neftchala, and Masdar had already developed the Garadagh solar plant in Azerbaijan.
So the short answer is that the solar cooperation is already real, while hydrogen is the next logical step. The hydrogen projects are realistic, but they will depend on financing, infrastructure, and export planning over the medium term.
Thank you so much. It was an honor to be with you on this podcast. Thank you.
Tamilla Mammadova — 03:11
Thank you very much for sharing your views with us. Thank you for your attention, until next time.
