ADM NEWS | Department of Municipalities and Transport signs Twin City agreement with Baku City Executive Power
The partnership was signed during an official trip to Baku by His Excellency Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of DMT, and His Excellency Eldar Azizov, Head of Baku City Executive Power, building on a shared vision announced during the official visit of His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev to Abu Dhabi earlier in 2026. The agreement sets out a commitment by both sides to enhance quality of life and advance sustainability-led urban development.
Under the Twin City framework, both Abu Dhabi and Baku will collaborate on mobility transformation, digital twin and traffic operations, and other aspects of urban planning. It also encourages participation in exhibitions and events, benchmark studies between relevant institutions, and knowledge exchange in various aspects of city management.
The accord establishes clear governance mechanisms with shared key performance indicators, enabling each city to track progress and scale successful initiatives across their respective urban environments.
His Excellency Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa said: “It was a pleasure to visit Baku and reaffirm the strong ties between the UAE and Azerbaijan. This partnership reflects the close friendship between our countries and our shared vision for shaping liveable, future-ready cities. Through this agreement, we will leverage collective expertise to drive meaningful long-term progress. In similar global partnerships, we have demonstrated that collaboration accelerates innovation and enhances quality of life.”
During a detailed technical walkthrough of the 28 May transport hub, named in honour of the country’s Independence Day, the DMT delegation was given the opportunity to examine passenger flows, wayfinding, and universal accessibility.
Officials also toured Baku’s UNESCO World Heritage Old City to explore best practices in preserving urban environments and pedestrian prioritisation.
Abu Dhabi has established other strategic alliances with Shenzhen, where a twinning agreement was signed in January 2024, and Brisbane, where a Sister City relationship has been in place for more than 15 years. These enduring connections demonstrate the emirate’s ongoing commitment to working with world-class municipalities and city authorities to implement pioneering approaches to elevating liveability standards.
