The second edition of the EurAsia Balkan Business Forum was held in Dubai on 24 September 2026, bringing together business leaders, government representatives, diplomats, investors, entrepreneurs and representatives of business councils from more than 30 countries.
Organised by EurAsia Gulf and the UAE-Croatia Business Club, with the support of Dubai Chambers, the Forum was designed as a platform connecting Central Asia, Eastern Europe and the Balkans with the GCC through the United Arab Emirates.
Following the success of the inaugural edition in 2025, this year’s Forum significantly expanded both its geographic reach and programme, covering market access, investment, international trade, government-led projects, technology, artificial intelligence and cross-border business development.
Representatives of embassies, consulates, chambers of commerce, business councils, government-related organisations and private-sector companies gathered in Dubai for a full morning of keynote speeches, country presentations, panel discussions and B2B networking.
A platform connecting regions through the UAE
The official programme opened with remarks by Aliona Zaleskaya, Board Director of EurAsia Gulf, followed by welcome addresses from Henrik Winther, Chairman of the Board of EurAsia Gulf, and Neven Roginić, President of the UAE-Croatia Business Club.
In his welcome address, Roginić reflected on the development of the UAE-Croatia Business Club over the previous twelve months and highlighted the growing institutional and business network created between Croatia, the UAE and the wider Gulf region.
The Club’s activities during the past year have included cooperation and dialogue with the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism, Investopia, Dubai Chambers, the Delegation of the European Union to the UAE, the Croatian Chamber of Economy, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, the Consulate General of Croatia in Dubai, HAMAG-BICRO and the Ruđer Bošković Institute.
The objective, Roginić emphasised, is not simply to organise events, but to create practical connections between companies, institutions, investors and decision-makers and help transform those connections into concrete business opportunities.
UAE perspective on cooperation with the Balkans and Eurasia
One of the central moments of the opening programme was the keynote address by H.E. Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, former UAE Minister of Infrastructure Development, former Minister of Climate Change and Environment and former Chairman of the Sharjah Consultative Council.
His participation provided an important UAE perspective on the developing relationship between the Emirates and the countries of the Balkans, Central Asia and Eastern Europe.
The Forum’s broader objective was precisely to examine how the UAE can function as a business and investment hub connecting these regions with the Gulf and wider international markets.
The opening segment was followed by keynote speeches and country introductions featuring H.E. Dr. Toni Atanasovski, former Ambassador of North Macedonia, H.E. Victor Haruta, former Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova, and Dr. Usama Al Malki, Chief Commercial Officer of EurAsia Gulf.
Their contributions reflected the international character of the Forum and provided perspectives from different parts of Southeast and Eastern Europe as well as the wider Eurasian business community.
Dubai Chambers presents the UAE as a gateway for international companies
A dedicated presentation by Cosmin Cristal, Investment Manager at Dubai Chambers, focused on the role of Dubai Chambers in helping Eurasian and Balkan companies access and understand the UAE market.
The presentation was particularly relevant following the UAE-Croatia Business Club’s activities in Croatia only days earlier.
Together with the Croatian Chamber of Economy, the Club had organised a business roundtable in Zagreb with Dubai Chambers International. More than 30 Croatian companies participated, while additional direct meetings were organised with companies active in technology, digital services, manufacturing, drones, construction, food production and other sectors.
The initiative demonstrated the practical approach that the UAE-Croatia Business Club is seeking to develop: moving beyond general market promotion and creating direct contact between companies considering international expansion and the institutions capable of supporting them.
For companies from the Balkans and wider Eurasian region, Dubai continues to represent not only a market in its own right but also an important international hub for expansion into the GCC, Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Uzbekistan and artificial intelligence in focus
The programme also included dedicated presentations highlighting specific markets and emerging business opportunities.
Shahrukh Rakhimov presented Uzbekistan in Focus, providing insight into the growing importance of the country within the wider Central Asian investment landscape.
Uzbekistan has increasingly become relevant to investors and international companies looking at Central Asia, particularly in sectors connected with infrastructure, industry, trade and government-supported economic development.
Technology and artificial intelligence also featured prominently in the programme through a presentation by Dr. Aleksandra Brankovic on GITEX AI Belgrade.
The inclusion of GITEX AI Belgrade reflected the increasingly strong connection between the Gulf’s technology ecosystem and Southeast Europe, as well as the growing role of AI, digital transformation and advanced technology within international business cooperation.
Balkans and UAE: partnerships, market access and investment opportunities
The first major panel discussion of the Forum addressed “Balkans & UAE: Partnerships, Market Access and Investment Opportunities.”
Moderated by Ida Pandur, Vice-President of the UAE-Croatia Business Club, the discussion examined how companies from the Balkan region can successfully approach the UAE market, establish local partnerships, attract investment and work with business councils and other support organisations.
The panel brought together representatives with experience across business, technology and international market development, including Milenko Bujandrić, Chairman of the Serbian Business Council, Dr. Ani Atanasova, Vice Chair of the Bulgarian Business Council, Dr. Aleksandra Brankovic of GITEX AI Belgrade, and Saoud Al Memari, Global Emirati Voice & Advisor at MBZUAI.
The discussion highlighted one of the recurring themes of the Forum: successful market entry depends on much more than identifying commercial demand.
Understanding the local business environment, establishing trusted relationships, selecting appropriate partners and working with chambers and business councils can often determine whether an international expansion strategy succeeds.
For companies from smaller European markets in particular, regional cooperation can also provide additional scale and visibility when approaching markets such as the UAE.
Central Asia and the UAE: trade corridors and government-led projects
The second main panel shifted the focus toward Central Asia and the UAE, examining trade corridors, investment opportunities and government-led projects.
Moderated by Irina Ryzhakova, Board Director of EurAsia Gulf, the panel brought together Alibek Almabekov, Chairman of the Qazaqstan Business Council, Shahrukh Rakhimov, Director General of the UAE Representative Office of the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, Lalit Tilani, President of Central Asia Club, and Dr. Abdul Salam “Abdo” Kayali, General Manager for International Relations at MOBH Holding Group.
The discussion explored the rapidly developing economic relationships between the UAE and Central Asian countries, with particular attention to government-supported projects, investment opportunities and practical approaches to entering these markets.
Central Asia has become increasingly relevant within the Forum’s wider concept of connecting economic regions through the UAE.
The country-focused and regional discussions demonstrated that the opportunity extends beyond traditional bilateral trade. New transport corridors, investment flows, infrastructure development and government-backed projects are creating opportunities for companies across a wide range of sectors.
Strengthening cooperation through new partnerships
The Forum also included a special Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony, reflecting the organisers’ intention to build longer-term institutional relationships beyond the event itself.
Such partnerships are becoming an important part of the development of both the EurAsia Balkan Business Forum and the UAE-Croatia Business Club.
Over the past year, the UAE-Croatia Business Club has expanded its activities beyond traditional business networking.
Its engagement with the European Union Delegation in Abu Dhabi and participation in the wider EU-GCC business dialogue have created additional opportunities to position Croatian and regional companies within a broader European-Gulf framework.
The Club also participated in the EU-GCC Business Forum in Kuwait City, while further engagement within the EU-GCC economic dialogue continues.
At the same time, cooperation with the Ruđer Bošković Institute has opened a new dimension focused on science, research, technology and innovation.
The aim is to create connections not only between businesses, but also between research institutions, technology ecosystems and industry in areas such as artificial intelligence, advanced technologies, energy, innovation and knowledge transfer.
The people behind the platform
Roginić also highlighted the importance of the team behind the UAE-Croatia Business Club, particularly Hrvoje Bujanović and Ida Pandur, whose work has contributed significantly to the organisation’s development.
Bujanović has played an important role in building relationships with Croatian institutions, companies and business leaders, while Pandur has been actively involved in the Club’s international network, events, communication and entrepreneurial ecosystem, as well as moderating one of the Forum’s central panel discussions.
The development of the Forum itself has also been the result of close cooperation with Nawar Abdul Wahed and the EurAsia Gulf team, which has worked together with the UAE-Croatia Business Club to establish the event as an increasingly international platform.
From discussion to concrete business
Following the closing remarks by Neven Roginić and Nawar Abdul Wahed, CEO of EurAsia Gulf, the official programme moved into an extended B2B networking session.
For the organisers, this part of the Forum is particularly important.
