CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VOLUME VII (1, 2) Contemporary-Eurasia-3new | Seite 103

MUSHEGH GHAHRIYAN
ence in the Kurdish region. The presence of these two countries in Iraqi
Kurdistan is explained by historical events and geographical closeness.
None of Gulf Arab countries has borders with the Kurdish autonomy.
When speaking about the relations of Iraqi Kurdistan and Gulf countries,
it should be emphasized, that they are newly emerging and are very limit-
ed, but have perspectives to develop.
The UAE has the most extensive diplomatic and political relations
with the Kurdistan Regional Government having opened its consulate
general there in 2012. The next Gulf Arab country to establish diplomatic
representation in Erbil was Kuwait in 2015. Saudi Arabia followed UAE
and Kuwait in 2016. Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar still do not have high-lev-
el representation with the KRG. The President of Iraqi Kurdistan Masoud
Barzani visited a number of Gulf countries in 2015, including Saudi Ara-
bia and the UAE.
UAE is one of the biggest investors in Kurdistan Region. In 2014,
Dubai’s Chamber of Commerce opened an offi ce in Erbil to support 150
Emirati companies already registered in the Kurdish region. 9
Qatar is also keen to invest in Kurdistan Region’s agriculture sector and
import agricultural products since the country suff ers food shortage due to
the embargo from the Gulf Arab states. A Qatari delegation headed by Dep-
uty Head of Qatar Chamber of Commerce visited the Kurdistan Region and
held meetings with the local offi cials in Kirkuk and Sulaimaniyah gover-
norates and discussed the ways to deepen economic relations. 10
President of Iraqi Kurdistan Masoud Barzani visited Qatar and UAE
in 2012 to discuss the events in the region and the broadening of mutu-
al relations between the Kurdistan Region and each of the two countries.
Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu
Dhabi reiterated the UAE’s desire to invest in Kurdistan Region. Presi-
dent Barzani also met with Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hamad
bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani and Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim bin Ha-
mad al-Thani in Doha to discuss means of further developing economic
and investment relations. 11
Oil resources are another fi eld of interest for Gulf Arab countries.
Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, which is also known as Taqa, an-
9
10
11
Sinem Cengiz, “The Gulf’s Stance on the Kurdish Referendum,” Arab News, September 15,
2017. http://www.arabnews.com/node/1161761/columns (accessed June 10, 2018).
Baxtiyar Goran, “Qatar to import from Kurdistan to battle embargo,” Kurdistan 24, July 26,
2017, http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/economy/0e3ab29f-b6a9-489f-9bdb-d1d8680cbceb (ac-
cessed June 15, 2018).
“President Barzani returns from offi cial visit to the UAE and Qatar,” Offi cial website of
KRG, November 7, 2012, http://cabinet.gov.krd/a/d.aspx?s=010000&l=12&a=45748(ac-
cessed April 15, 2018).
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