In a bid to bolster UAE-Bahrain ties, His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, will commence an official visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain on Tuesday at the invitation of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain.
During the visit, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi will engage in discussions with the Crown Prince of Bahrain, focusing on the historic ties and avenues of cooperation between the two nations. The discussions will also emphasize joint efforts in key sectors, including economic, investment, and developmental fields, as well as other vital areas that support the shared vision of fostering prosperity and progress for their peoples while contributing to peace and stability in the region.
UAE-Bahrain Joint Higher Committee
Sheikh Khaled’s visit to Bahrain will come following the 12th session of the UAE-Bahrain Joint Higher Committee held in Manama. During the meeting, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the deep bonds of fraternity, friendship, and collaboration between the two nations.
“The United Arab Emirates has always considered and continues to consider Bahrain a strategic partner across all fields. Bahrain is an integral and deeply rooted part of the journey of progress and prosperity in the Arabian Gulf and the entire region,” he stated.
Sheikh Abdullah stated that UAE-Bahrain ties transcend mere figures, representing a shared destiny and ambitious goals. He noted that non-oil trade between the two countries exceeded $7.5 billion in 2023 and emphasized the UAE’s desire to strengthen partnerships with Bahrain across industries such as trade, renewable energy, transportation, infrastructure, and services.
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Stronger ties in key sectors
At the conclusion of the committee’s work, Sheikh Abdullah and Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Bahrain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, witnessed the signing of four memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and an executive program between the two countries.
The two officials witnessed the signing of an MoU on strengthening cooperation and exchanging expertise in civil aviation. Abdullah bin Touq Almarri, Minister of Economy, and Dr. Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, signed the partnership.
The UAE and Bahrain also signed an MoU on bilateral cooperation and the exchange of financial and economic policies and expertise, signed by Ali Abdullah Sharafi, assistant undersecretary of the International Financial Relationship Sector at the Ministry of Finance, and Engineer Nawaf Al-Sayed Hashim Al-Sada, Assistant Undersecretary for International Cooperation Affairs at the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, Bahrain.
Hanan Ahli, managing director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center (FCSC), and Dr. Faisal Issa Hamad, Assistant Undersecretary for Competitiveness and Economic Indicators at Bahrain’s Ministry of Finance and National Economy, also inked an agreement on cooperation in enhancing competitiveness.
The two countries also signed an MoU on cooperation in training and developing government competencies, which Dr. Yasser Ahmed Al Naqbi, director general of Abu Dhabi School of Government, affiliated with the Department of Government Enablement, and Dr. Shaikha Rana bint Isa bin Duaij Al Khalifa, Director General of the Institute of Public Administration in Bahrain, signed.
The UAE Minister of Economy, and Fatima bint Jafar Alsairafi, Bahrain’s Minister of Tourism, also signed an executive program for cooperation in the tourism sector.