Page 67 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - MAY 2025 (Part 1)_Neat

Press Release

H.E. Abdulla bin Touq discusses deeper economic collaboration with Italy
and San Marino in tourism, technology, and the new economy

UAE welcomed 359,000 Italian visitors in 2024, reflecting a 9 per cent increase from
2023

Abu Dhabi, 19 May 2025:

His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of Investopia,
held a series of meetings with several ministers from the Italian government and the Government
of San Marino, on the sidelines of the third edition of Investopia Europe, held in Milan. H.E. Alia
bint Abdulla Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, and H.E. Abdulla Ali
AlSubousi, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Italy, also attended the meetings.

During the discussions, H.E. Bin Touq highlighted the robust and profound relations between the
UAE and Italy, which continue to advance across various fields, particularly on economic and
investment fronts.

H.E. said: “Both nations offer promising opportunities to diversify and expand the scope of
existing economic collaboration across sectors of mutual interest. This momentum is reinforced
by growing business and investment flows, as well as a series of economic cooperation agreements
signed between the two countries in various fields. Currently, there are 7,536 Italian companies
and over 400 commercial agencies operating in the UAE, across diverse sectors including financial
technology, transportation, tourism, energy, and hospitality.”

In this context, H.E. Bin Touq and H.E. Alia Al Mazrouei held a meeting with H.E. Adolfo Urso,
Italy’s Minister for Enterprises and ‘Made in Italy,’ to explore new strategies and action plans
aimed at deepening economic cooperation. The discussions centered on enabling further growth
for the UAE and Italian business communities, while advancing shared interests and common
aspirations.

H.E. Alia Al Mazrouei stated: "The discussions with our Italian counterparts mark a significant
step toward strengthening cooperation in entrepreneurship and SMEs. This collaboration aims to
create more opportunities for entrepreneurs and startups in both markets, enhance their
competitiveness across various economic sectors, and encourage their expansion into foreign
markets."