Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

New Ukrainian ambassador to United Arab Emirates appointed

23 July , 2025  

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Decree No. 519/2025 appointing Oleksandr Balanutsa as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Permanent Representative to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), headquartered in Abu Dhabi.

Alexander Balanuța is an experienced diplomat who previously served as Ukraine’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the State of Kuwait. Since 2024, he has also served as Ukraine’s Special Representative for Cooperation with the Arab Countries of the Persian Gulf.

His appointment to the UAE is a logical continuation of his diplomatic mission in the Middle East. Balanuța has been actively working to expand economic, energy, and investment ties between Ukraine and countries in the region, including on attracting investment in Ukraine’s renewable energy sector.

Ukraine and the UAE established diplomatic relations in 1992. The Ukrainian Embassy in Abu Dhabi has been operating since 1993. The Emirates are one of Ukraine’s key partners in the Middle East, especially in the context of trade, high technology, and energy.

The appointment of the new ambassador demonstrates Ukraine’s intention to deepen cooperation with the UAE and international institutions such as IRENA in the context of the global energy transition.

IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency) is an international agency for renewable energy, founded in 2009, which brings together 169 countries (as of 2025). The organization’s goal is to promote sustainable development and the use of all forms of renewable energy worldwide. The agency’s headquarters are located in Abu Dhabi (UAE). Ukraine has been a full member of IRENA since 2018.

 

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