On the sidelines of the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, a meeting was held between the Director of the International Aral Sea Innovation Center and the Director General of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) of the UAE, Dr. Tarifa Al Zaabi. For reference: Tarifa Al Zaabi has extensive experience in developing services and strategies in higher education institutions through management, innovation, research and capacity building. Al Zaabi constantly takes an active part in a number of international events aimed at addressing climate change, transforming the agritech sector and improving domestic food security. Since 2020, he has been the Director General of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) of the UAE. At the meeting, organized in the Uzbekistan pavilion at COP16 in Riyadh, special attention was paid to further strengthening mutual cooperation. During the meeting, issues of increasing the collection of the plant gene bank at the International Innovation Center of the Aral Sea region under the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan were discussed. The purpose of these efforts is to conduct scientific research to create new varieties that are resistant to drought and water crisis, which can be successfully grown in the arid climate of Uzbekistan. Within the framework of this meeting, issues of launching a joint experimental project aimed at creating a greenhouse, implementing innovative methods of water management, as well as organizing seminars and trainings for local residents and farms were also discussed.