H.E. Sabina Stadler, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the United Arab Emirates, has affirmed her country’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with the UAE and expanding cooperation in the economic, investment, tourism and scientific fields.
She highlighted promising opportunities for partnerships in logistics, hospitality, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, artificial intelligence and scientific research.
In an interview with Gulf Tourism News (gulftourism.news), the Ambassador said the UAE represents an inspiring model of visionary leadership, investment in youth and education, and economic development. She stressed that her priorities during her tenure include elevating bilateral relations to new levels and exploring further areas of cooperation in pursuit of the shared interests of both countries.
She explained that Slovenia is seeking to strengthen its investment presence among the UAE business community and make progress towards concluding a bilateral investment agreement, which would support the flow of mutual investments and create opportunities for long-term partnerships.
The logistics sector is among the most promising areas, benefiting from the strategic location of Slovenia’s Port of Koper on the Adriatic Sea. The port serves as a major gateway for cargo and container transport to Central Europe, offering important trade routes to regional markets, including southern Germany.
She also highlighted cooperation opportunities in tourism, hotels, health resorts, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, emphasising the importance of UAE investments in supporting Slovenian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), expanding their operations and advancing innovation, research and development.
Tourism and Hospitality
In the tourism sector, the Ambassador invited UAE nationals, residents and visitors from across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to visit Slovenia and discover its diverse natural and tourism attractions.
She described Slovenia as an ideal year-round holiday destination, offering a combination of mountains, beaches, forests, plains, vineyards and wellness resorts.
Slovenia provides a wide range of experiences, including winter sports, skiing, mountain hiking, city exploration, nature activities and coastal tourism. Summer temperatures generally range around 30 degrees Celsius, making the country an attractive destination for visitors from the Gulf region.
She noted that forests cover approximately two-thirds of Slovenia’s territory, while the country enjoys abundant water resources and remarkable natural and environmental diversity, further enhancing its tourism appeal.
Slovenia has recorded continuous growth in international visitor numbers for more than a decade, ranging between 2 and 5 per cent annually and reaching 10 per cent in some years.
The Ambassador stressed that Slovenia is keen to balance tourism growth with environmental protection and the preservation of its natural identity, while avoiding mass tourism.
She added that Slovenia welcomes foreign investment in tourism and offers opportunities to develop luxury hotels and resorts, as well as renovate existing properties and reposition them under international hotel brands as long as the environmental standards are respected. She noted that the country needs more hotels offering higher levels of luxury, comfort and hospitality services.
Medical and Wellness Tourism
Regarding medical and wellness tourism, the Ambassador explained that Slovenia is home to natural springs rich in mineral waters with therapeutic properties.
Its health resorts offer a wide range of programmes covering wellness, beauty treatments, rehabilitation and revitalisation, alongside sporting and recreational activities.
She emphasised that these resources provide opportunities to develop specialised tourism and wellness programmes targeting visitors from the UAE and the wider Gulf region, while benefiting from Slovenia’s established expertise in this sector.
Artificial Intelligence and Scientific Research
On scientific and technological cooperation, the Ambassador highlighted Slovenia’s longstanding expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning, noting that Ljubljana and its university were among the important research centres in this field already 70 years ago.
She said Slovenia is currently developing advanced AI applications in healthcare, medicine and robotics, while seeking to strengthen cooperation with UAE institutions in scientific research, education and academic exchange.
Slovenian universities and research institutes, particularly the University of Ljubljana, the Jožef Stefan Institute, the National Institute of Biology and the National Institute of Chemistry, offer opportunities for cooperation with researchers and students from around the world, also from the UAE and the wider Gulf region.
She also highlighted advances in Slovenian medical technology and personalised treatments, including research into cancer and viral diseases, stressing the importance of investment and partnerships with start-ups and specialised institutions to develop these technologies and expand their applications.
The Ambassador further noted that Slovenia has launched two satellites into space and maintains its own dedicated office, including for cooperation with the European Space Agency. The country is also home to companies specialising in space, security, defence and advanced technologies, creating additional opportunities for cooperation with the UAE.
Sustainability and Quality of Life
The Ambassador affirmed that environmental protection and sustainability are central to Slovenia’s development policies, noting that more than one-third of the country’s territory is environmentally protected, including national and regional parks.
She highlighted Slovenia’s commitment to recycling and biodiversity conservation, as well as its role in supporting the establishment of World Bee Day, celebrated annually on May 20, to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators in safeguarding food security and ecological balance.
She also emphasised Slovenia’s strengths in education and healthcare, pointing to its comprehensive health insurance system and high standards of medical services, particularly in neonatal and paediatric care.
Concluding the interview, the Ambassador renewed her invitation to UAE nationals, GCC citizens and residents of the UAE to visit Slovenia and experience its exceptional natural beauty, safety, sustainability and diverse tourism offerings, alongside the promising investment and scientific opportunities it provides.
