Islamabad: President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is set to arrive in Pakistan on Friday, December 26, for an official visit, the Foreign Office confirmed.
This will mark Sheikh Mohamed’s first official visit to Pakistan since assuming office as UAE president, although he earlier met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Rahim Yar Khan in January this year during a brief stopover. It will also be his second visit to Pakistan in 2024.
According to the Foreign Office, President Al Nahyan will hold extensive talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, covering the full range of bilateral relations. Both leaders are also expected to exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual concern.
The FO said the visit underscores the strong, brotherly ties between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates and reflects a shared commitment to deepening cooperation across multiple sectors, including trade, investment, energy, development, and regional stability.
Pakistan and the UAE enjoy long-standing diplomatic, economic, and cultural relations, reinforced by historic links and the presence of a large Pakistani expatriate community in the Emirates. The UAE remains one of Pakistan’s major trading partners and a vital source of remittances, with thousands of Pakistanis employed across various industries.
Both countries also maintain close collaboration in defence, energy, and investment initiatives, while the UAE has consistently extended financial support and humanitarian assistance to Pakistan during challenging times.
Earlier this year in April, Pakistan and the UAE signed several memoranda of understanding aimed at strengthening people-to-people and institutional ties. These included agreements on cultural cooperation, the formation of a joint committee on consular affairs, and the establishment of the UAE-Pakistan Joint Business Council through collaboration between the chambers of commerce of both countries.
The upcoming visit is expected to further solidify the strategic partnership between Islamabad and Abu Dhabi.
