The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure has signed a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the transport ministries of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to cooperate on the Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan (CASA) railway corridor, also referred to as the Central Asia–South Asia project. The agreement was signed in Astana during an official visit by an Emirati delegation led by Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure and Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to Kazakhstan.
Under the terms of the memorandum, the three parties intend to conduct technical, economic, and analytical feasibility studies regarding the required railway infrastructure and associated facilities. The signatories also plan to discuss establishing a joint working group to coordinate the project's technical, economic, and financing frameworks to advance the line toward operational development.
Official releases noted that the initiative seeks to merge the transit networks and domestic rail infrastructure of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan with the UAE’s expertise in major transport logistics and infrastructure investment. Prior estimates released by Kazakh authorities indicate that the trans-Afghan corridor could potentially handle up to 10 million tonnes of annual cargo directed toward Pakistani seaports.
During his visit to Kazakhstan, Al Mazrouei also led bilateral discussions involving UAE entities, including Etihad Rail, AD Ports Group, Masdar, and Presight, covering cooperation across transport, energy, and digital technology. The minister also met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to discuss regional connectivity along the Middle Corridor and attended the 30th Kazakhstan International Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference (KIOGE 2026) in Almaty.
Sources
- IndexBox · 2026-10-04
