ISLAMABAD: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Islamabad on Sunday to hold talks on various aspects of bilateral relations, including trade and investment.
In a statement, the Foreign Office said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar received his counterpart in Islamabad.
“He is on a two-day official visit to Pakistan,” the statement added.
During his official trip, from April 20 to April 21, UAE Deputy PM Sheikh Abdullah will hold talks with his counterpart Dar, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif with the discussions covering the entire spectrum of bilateral relations.
The meeting, as per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), will particularly focus on trade and investment, energy cooperation, regional security, and people-to-people linkages will be reviewed during the meeting.
“The high-level visit reflects the deep-rooted, fraternal relations between Pakistan and the UAE, and underscores the two countries’ shared commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation across all areas of mutual interest,” the FO said in a statement.
The visit will also provide an opportunity for both sides to exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest and concern.
During his time in Pakistan, the UAE dignitary will also call on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with the two leaders set to “reaffirm the shared vision for peace and prosperity in the region”.
“The visit will further cement the longstanding Pakistan-UAE ties and contribute to deepening bilateral engagements in diverse fields, benefiting the peoples of both countries,” read the statement issued by the MoFA.
Sheikh Abdullah’s visit comes after Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit to Pakistan in February, during which the two countries signed five agreements to enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields, including banking, railways, mining and infrastructural investment.
Pakistan and the UAE share a rich history of bilateral ties expanding to multiple fields and domains, with a large number of Pakistanis living and working in the Gulf country, which has also recently enabled Pakistani nationals to obtain five-year visas as well.
According to the Foreign Office, Sheikh Abdullah will hold wide-ranging discussions with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. The talks are expected to cover a broad spectrum, including trade and investment, energy cooperation, regional security, and people-to-people exchanges. He is also scheduled to call on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“This high-level visit reflects the shared desire to strengthen cooperation in all areas of mutual interest,” the FO said in a statement, adding that regional and global developments will also feature in the discussions.
The UAE is one of Pakistan’s most significant trade and investment partners in the Gulf region, and officials see the visit as an opportunity to further advance economic and strategic collaboration.
Diplomatic sources suggest the meeting will reaffirm both nations’ shared vision for regional peace, prosperity, and development.
The visit comes amid recent efforts to expand economic ties between the two countries. In February, Pakistan hosted the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, during which multiple agreements were signed covering mining, railways, banking, and infrastructure. Earlier in January 2023, the two nations concluded investment deals worth over $3 billion, focused on economic zones and large-scale infrastructure development.
The Foreign Office noted that the current visit is part of continuing high-level exchanges aimed at bolstering bilateral cooperation and creating new avenues for joint ventures.
