Central Asia and the GCC: from historical ties to strategic partnership

In recent years, relations between Central Asia and the Gulf Cooperation Council have shown steady, positive growth. The economic potential of both regions, along with deepening political dialogue, shared cultural and historical ties, and advantageous geostrategic positioning, is boosting the strategic importance of this partnership.

A turning point in this process was the historic first summit of GCC and Central Asian heads of state in Jeddah on July 19, 2023, which laid the foundation for long-term strategic cooperation.

The second summit is scheduled for May 2025 in Samarkand. The choice of Samarkand is no coincidence; for centuries, this city at the crossroads of the Great Silk Road has been a key center for dialogue, diplomacy, trade, and cultural exchange between East and West. Holding the event in Samarkand aims to renew and strengthen these historical ties.

Historical ties and their transformation

Centuries of relations between Central Asia and the Arabian Peninsula provide a strong foundation for the revival of mutually beneficial cooperation. Since the 2nd century BCE, the Great Silk Road facilitated active trade: silk, paper, jewelry, and horses were exported from Central Asia to Arabia, while incense, spices, and jewelry were traded in return, establishing the basis for civilizational interconnectedness.

With the spread of Islam in the 8th century, interactions deepened. A key institution in this process was the renowned House of Wisdom (Bait Al-Hikma) in Baghdad, where scholars from Central Asia and the Arab world together laid the foundations of global science.

Samarkand, Bukhara, and Merv became not only trade hubs but also intellectual centers in the Islamic world. Scholars from the region made significant contributions to both theological and secular knowledge: Al-Bukhari and At-Tirmidhi systematized the hadith, Al-Khwarizmi developed algebra, and Al-Farabi and Ibn Sina merged ancient philosophy with Islamic thought.

Makkah and Madinah played crucial roles in the development of Islamic science, becoming key centers for studying hadith, where scholars including Ibn Abbas and Malik ibn Anas developed methodologies for collecting and verifying hadith, forming the basis of Islamic jurisprudence. This network of intellectual centers from the Arabian Peninsula to Central Asia fostered a regular exchange of knowledge, creating a unified scientific space in the Islamic world.

Together, these regions can build a mutually beneficial partnership where sustainable development and digital transformation form the foundation for a new model of cooperation

However, from the 16th century onward, traditional connections weakened due to geopolitical and geoeconomic changes. The discovery of maritime trade routes during the Age of Exploration shifted global trade patterns, diminishing the importance of overland routes. In the 20th century, international processes and the rise of ideological barriers further distanced the regions.

The year 1991 marked a new beginning for international relations in Central Asia, as the independence of the region’s states created opportunities to revive centuries-old partnerships. This period is characterized by the GCC’s political and diplomatic solidarity with Central Asia, alongside limited, but meaningful, economic interactions. The Gulf states were among the first to officially recognize the sovereignty of the new Central Asian republics.

Opening embassies in Central Asian capitals was not just a formal action but a significant political signal of the GCC’s willingness to support the peaceful development of these countries.

Current dynamics of interregional relations

Since 2020, a new phase of interaction between Central Asia and the Gulf countries has emerged, marked by the development of institutional cooperation, as evidenced by the first summit of heads of state and two ministerial meetings held in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

As a result of these meetings, a Joint Action Plan for 2023–2027 was adopted, serving as the first conceptual document outlining long-term directions for mutually beneficial partnership. This has led to tangible progress, reflected in a significant increase in trade, tourism, and investment exchanges.

Investment from GCC countries into Central Asia has grown steadily, nearly tripling since 2022. Financial cooperation is also expanding within Islamic financing frameworks, with the Islamic Development Bank investing $9.1 billion in CIS countries, 60 percent of which is directed to Central Asia.

Central Asia is becoming an attractive tourist destination for the GCC. In 2023, more than 8,300 GCC tourists visited Uzbekistan, with the number rising to 12,000 in 2024 (a 44.5 percent increase). The largest increases were from Saudi Arabia (71 percent) and the UAE (51 percent).

This progress is due to fundamental changes in interstate relations in Central Asia, confirmed by the launch of Consultative Meetings between heads of state, which have led to quick, mutually acceptable resolutions to contentious issues.

As a result, Central Asia has transformed from a potential conflict zone into a region of stability, good-neighborliness, and prosperity, positively impacting overall economic indicators. Over the past seven years, the total GDP of Central Asia has grown by 6.3 percent, intraregional trade has increased 4.4 times, and mutual investments have nearly doubled.

Another notable trend is the growing political influence of Central Asia. This is reflected in the creation of dialogue formats like “CA Plus,” which harmonize the diverse interests of external partners in a constructive manner, promoting sustainable development in Central Asia. More than 10 such platforms have emerged, including CA-GCC, six of which were created in the last five years.

In summary, recent years have focused on restoring historical ties, building institutional frameworks for multilateral cooperation, and identifying key areas for mutually beneficial partnership.

Strategic goals of partnership

Central Asia and the GCC countries share similar political, economic, and social development goals and common approaches to international and regional issues.

The countries of both regions continue to support each other within influential international organizations, including the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Both regions aim to diversify their economies, reduce dependence on raw materials, and create sustainable growth models. For Central Asia, this involves developing industry, agriculture, and transport infrastructure, while the Gulf states focus on promoting innovative technologies, the green economy, and tourism.

The strategic development programs of countries in both regions align in terms of goals: Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, Oman’s Vision 2040, Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, We the UAE 2031, Qatar’s National Vision 2030, Kuwait’s Vision 2035, and the national development strategies of Kyrgyzstan (2040), Kazakhstan (2050), and Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan (2030) all present opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships.

Both regions share the common goal of transforming their economies from resource-based models to innovation-driven ones, emphasizing high production concentration, scientific and technological knowledge, and new technologies.

Both the GCC and Central Asia are experiencing positive economic growth. From 2022 to 2024, Central Asia's economy grew by 4.7 percent annually. In 2024, the nominal GDP of Central Asia reached around $520 billion. In the Gulf, GCC countries saw 1.5 percent GDP growth in 2023, following a record 7.9 percent growth in 2022, with regional growth of about 2 percent in 2024.

Another unifying factor is the complementarity of the two regions' economies. The Gulf is a key player in global energy security and an international investment hub, while Central Asia holds around 20 percent of the world’s uranium reserves, 7 percent of oil and natural gas, significant deposits of rare earth metals, and strong hydropower and solar energy potential. Central Asia also offers a growing labor force.

Geographically, both regions are strategically positioned. The Gulf lies at the crossroads of major maritime trade routes between Europe, Asia, and Africa, while Central Asia is a key junction for overland transport corridors. From a geostrategic perspective, both regions connect global production and supply chains.

These shared characteristics make the countries of both regions natural partners, fostering trade, investment cooperation, and the implementation of large-scale joint projects across various sectors. Recognizing this, Central Asia and the GCC have already begun establishing long-term cooperation in several mutually beneficial areas.

New horizons of partnership

While the level of cooperation achieved over the past seven to eight years is notable, there is still potential for further advancement. Future joint efforts could focus on the following strategic areas, which, together, would create a multiplier effect.

First, trade exchanges need to be intensified. In 2024, trade turnover between Central Asia and the GCC countries amounted to about $4 billion. This is less than 1 percent of the GCC’s global trade and less than 2 percent of Central Asia’s trade with the world. This highlights the need for a multilateral trade agreement, as proposed by the President of Uzbekistan during the first Central Asia-GCC summit.

Second, building an effective interregional connection requires a reliable and extensive transportation network. The underdevelopment of transport and logistics infrastructure remains a significant barrier to boosting trade and economic exchanges.

Uzbekistan advocates for interregional transport projects, with the Trans-Afghan Corridor project — proposed by Uzbekistan’s president at the first Central Asia-GCC summit — being of key importance. Experts believe its successful implementation would diversify trade routes and reduce logistics costs. This would allow Central Asia to become a gateway for Gulf goods and services into the Eurasian market, boosting the non-oil sector of the Gulf states while providing Central Asia with easier access to global markets through GCC seaports.

Third, investment cooperation is mutually beneficial. Central Asia is an attractive market with growing investment potential, offering resources, transit corridors, and a young, dynamic population. Its internal political stability and foreign policy neutrality make it a safe haven for long-term investments. For the Gulf states looking to diversify their investment portfolios, Central Asia is a natural focus. To harness this potential, the two regions could create financial cooperation mechanisms to support major projects in infrastructure, energy, and high technology.

In summary, these strategic areas — trade, transportation, and investment — offer significant opportunities for further strengthening cooperation between Central Asia and the GCC, driving mutual growth and development.

Fourth, agriculture presents a promising area for cooperation. Central Asia could play a key role in ensuring food security for the GCC, which imports 85 percent of its food products. By 2028, the GCC’s food market needs are expected to reach 59.6 million tons annually. In this context, the GCC and Central Asia could establish joint agricultural clusters, with final products intended for export to the Gulf region.

Fifth, Central Asia and the GCC can strengthen cooperation in digital technologies by creating specialized exchange programs and joint projects in e-government, cybersecurity, and fintech. Another step could be the joint development of telecommunications infrastructure in Central Asia, including the construction of 5G networks and data centers. This would offer additional incentives for Gulf companies and investment funds for the technology sector of Central Asian countries.

Another important area is strengthening scientific and intellectual collaboration. Research institutes and think tanks in both regions should play a pivotal role in identifying priority areas for deepening relations. In this regard, the first Forum of Think Tanks from Central Asia and the GCC will take place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on April 28-29 under the theme: “Strengthening Strategic Partnership between Central Asia and the GCC: From Historical Ties to Comprehensive Cooperation.” Leading think tanks from both regions will attend.

The forum is being organized by the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the president of Uzbekistan and the Saudi-based Gulf Research Center. The goal is for the forum to become a regular platform for expert interaction. This initiative could serve as an important tool for enhancing cooperation between Central Asia and the Gulf countries, complementing official cooperation mechanisms.

Overall, cooperation between Central Asia and the GCC offers significant strategic opportunities. The unifying factors are not only cultural and historical proximity, but also the complementary nature of their economies. Together, these regions can build a mutually beneficial partnership where sustainable development, food and energy security, and digital transformation form the foundation for a new model of multilateral cooperation.

• Dr. Eldor Aripov is the former deputy foreign minister of Uzbekistan and director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the president of Uzbekistan.

• Dr. Abdulaziz Sager is the chairman of the Gulf Research Center.