UAE’s Zayed Al Nahyan lands in Pakistan for maiden visit as President

Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates on Friday reaffirmed their shared commitment to maintaining close coordination on matters of mutual interest and underscored the need to enhance bilateral trade during UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s first official visit to Pakistan.

President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Pakistan on the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and was accorded a warm and cordial welcome. A formation of JF-17 fighter jets escorted the royal aircraft as it entered Pakistani airspace.

The UAE president was received at Nur Khan Airbase by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. Senior cabinet members and government officials were also present.

During the visit, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed held substantive talks with PM Shehbaz. According to a statement issued after the meetings, the discussions focused on “further strengthening the longstanding fraternal relations between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.”

“The two leaders reviewed the progress achieved in ongoing areas of cooperation and explored avenues to deepen engagement across a wide range of sectors,” the statement said.

Both sides underscored the importance of expanding collaboration in economic cooperation, investment, energy, infrastructure development, information technology, technology and people-to-people exchanges. They also agreed on the need to enhance bilateral trade, which, the statement noted, “has great potential for mutually beneficial growth.”

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The leaders also exchanged views on key regional and international developments and reaffirmed their “shared commitment to continue close coordination on matters of mutual interest.”

Expressing satisfaction over the positive trajectory of bilateral relations, the two leaders reiterated their determination to work closely to advance shared objectives of peace, stability and sustainable development.

“The visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will further consolidate the deep brotherly ties between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates and contribute to the strengthening of their strategic partnership,” the statement added.

PM Shehbaz vows closer ties

Later, in a message on X, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the meeting as adding to the warmth and festivities as the New Year approaches.

“It was a pleasure to welcome my dear brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, on an official visit to Pakistan, adding to the warmth and festivities as we enter the New Year together,” the prime minister said.

“We held most cordial and constructive talks, during which we reflected on the many facets of our wide-ranging bilateral cooperation, as well as efforts for peace and prosperity,” he added.

The prime minister further said that Pakistan was “proud of its longstanding, deep-rooted, fraternal ties with the UAE that are getting stronger under the patronage of my dear brother His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.”

This marks President Nahyan’s second trip to Pakistan this year, following an earlier meeting with Shehbaz in Rahim Yar Khan in January.

Earlier, the Foreign Office said in a statement that the visit offers a significant opportunity to further deepen the longstanding fraternal relationship between the two nations.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz welcomed the UAE president’s visit, saying relations between Pakistan and the UAE are “timeless and exemplary.” She expressed pride that the UAE president chose Pakistan for his first official visit.

Pakistan and the UAE maintain diplomatic, economic, and cultural connections, reinforced by historical bonds and a substantial Pakistani diaspora in the Emirates. The UAE ranks among Pakistan’s major trading partners and serves as a vital source of remittances, with a large Pakistani workforce employed across various sectors in the Gulf state.

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Earlier this week, Shehbaz expressed Pakistan’s interest in attracting greater UAE investment in sectors such as energy, minerals, information technology, railways, and aviation during discussions with UAE Ambassador Zaabi.

On Friday, the Islamabad district administration declared a local holiday in the capital to accommodate the visit, though essential services including hospitals, law enforcement, municipal operations, and utility providers continued normal operations.

Islamabad Police announced traffic diversions on the Expressway and Murree Road/Club Road from 11.00am to 3.00pm due to the visit. Commuters travelling on the Expressway from Rawat were advised to use the Rawalpindi-Peshawar Road instead, while those on IJP Road and Srinagar Highway were directed to use inner-city service roads.

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Police also recommended leaving an extra 20 to 25 minutes for travel and deployed traffic officers across the city to assist citizens.

In April, the two nations signed several memoranda of understanding covering cultural cooperation, consular affairs coordination, and the establishment of a UAE-Pakistan Joint Business Council linking their respective chambers of commerce.