By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on Friday for an official visit aimed at deepening the already robust ties between the two nations, Pakistan’s Foreign Office announced on Wednesday.
The trip marks Sheikh Mohamed’s second journey to Pakistan this year, following a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the southern city of Rahim Yar Khan in January. But Foreign Office officials described this as his first official visit in his capacity as president, underscoring its potential to elevate bilateral discussions.
During the visit, Sheikh Mohamed and Sharif are expected to conduct a comprehensive review of relations between the Emirates and Pakistan, while also exchanging views on regional and international matters of shared concern, according to the Foreign Office statement. “The visit will provide an important opportunity to further strengthen the longstanding brotherly relations between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.” Foreign Office emphasised that the engagement reflects the profound depth of the two countries’ partnership and their mutual dedication to expanding cooperation in critical sectors, including trade, investment, energy, development projects and efforts to promote regional stability.
The announcement comes at a time when Pakistan, grappling with economic challenges and security issues along its borders, has increasingly turned to Gulf allies like the UAE for support. The Emirates, a key player in Middle Eastern diplomacy, has long been a steadfast partner for Islamabad, providing financial assistance and fostering economic linkages that benefit both sides.
Pakistan and the UAE maintain close diplomatic, economic and cultural bonds, rooted in decades of historical connections and reinforced by a substantial Pakistani expatriate population in the Emirates. Thousands of Pakistanis work across various industries there, from construction to finance, making the UAE one of Pakistan’s top sources of remittances — funds sent home by workers abroad that form a vital lifeline for the country’s economy.
The UAE ranks among Pakistan’s largest trading partners, with bilateral trade volumes running into billions of dollars annually. The two nations collaborate extensively on defence initiatives, energy ventures and investment opportunities, with the Emirates often stepping in to offer humanitarian aid during Pakistan’s frequent natural disasters, such as floods and earthquakes.
This year’s interactions have already yielded tangible progress. In April, officials from both countries signed and exchanged several memorandums of understanding to enhance people-to-people connections and institutional ties. Two of those agreements focused on cultural cooperation and the creation of a joint committee to handle consular affairs, aimed at streamlining visa processes and supporting the expatriate community.
A third memorandum established the UAE-Pakistan Joint Business Council, linking the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry with its Pakistani counterpart to facilitate greater private-sector engagement and investment flows. Such steps build on a foundation of goodwill that has seen the UAE extend loans and grants to Pakistan in recent years, helping to stabilize its foreign reserves amid ongoing fiscal pressures.
As regional dynamics shift — with tensions in the Middle East and South Asia influencing alliances — the visit could also touch on broader geopolitical issues, though Foreign Office details remained limited to the bilateral agenda.
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