Islamabad rolls out the red carpet for al-Nahyan; Two countries discuss economic cooperation
COAS and CDF Marshal Syed Asim Munir greets UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan on his arrival at Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and DPM/FM Ishaq Dar look on. Photo: Express
ISLAMABAD:
United Arab Emirates (UAE) President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan on Friday paid an official visit to Pakistan, marking his first visit to the country in his capacity as UAE President, as Islamabad continues to consolidate its strategic, economic and diplomatic engagement with its key Gulf partners.
The visit, undertaken at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, comes at a time when Pakistan’s relations with the Gulf states are seeing renewed momentum, driven by growing cooperation in the areas of defence, investment, energy and regional diplomacy.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed received a warm and ceremonial welcome on his arrival in Islamabad. In a rare display of honour, a formation of JF-17 fighter jets escorted the royal plane as it entered Pakistani airspace, highlighting the close defense and security ties between the two countries.
At the Nur Khan Air Base, the UAE President was received by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Force Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, as well as senior cabinet members and government officials.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed held in-depth talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the visit.
The discussions focused on exchanging views on strengthening the long-standing brotherly relations between Pakistan and the UAE.
The two leaders reviewed progress in ongoing areas of cooperation and explored ways to deepen their engagement across a wide range of sectors.
Both sides stressed the importance of expanding collaboration in the fields of economic cooperation, investment, energy, infrastructure development, information technology, technology and people-to-people exchanges.
They also agreed on the need to strengthen bilateral trade, noting that it holds significant potential for mutually beneficial growth.
In addition to bilateral issues, the leaders exchanged views on important regional and international developments and reaffirmed their shared commitment to continuing close coordination on issues of mutual interest.
While expressing satisfaction with the positive trajectory of bilateral relations, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed reiterated their determination to continue working together in close collaboration to advance the common goals of peace, stability and sustainable development.
The Prime Minister’s Office said the visit would further consolidate the deep fraternal ties between Pakistan and the UAE and contribute to strengthening their strategic partnership.
The high-profile visit reflects a broader pattern of intensifying engagement between Pakistan and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, particularly over the past year. I
Islamabad is increasingly looking to the Gulf not only as a traditional source of economic support and employment for Pakistani expatriates, but also as a strategic partner in defense cooperation, investment-led growth and regional stability.
Pakistan and the UAE share deep-rooted historical, cultural and people-to-people ties.
Millions of Pakistanis live and work in the Emirates, contributing significantly to the UAE economy, while remittances remain a key pillar of Pakistan’s foreign exchange inflows. Over the years, the UAE has also become one of Pakistan’s major trading and investor partners.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed’s visit comes in a context of renewed diplomatic dynamics between Pakistan and the main Gulf States.
In recent months, Pakistan has expanded its defense and security dialogue with regional partners, while actively seeking investment from the Gulf in the infrastructure, energy and technology sectors, as part of its broader economic stabilization and reform agenda.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan’s long-time strategic ally, has also stepped up its engagement, with both sides reaffirming defense and security cooperation and exploring new economic initiatives.
Analysts see these developments as part of Pakistan’s efforts to recalibrate its regional diplomacy, diversify its economic partnerships and strengthen ties with countries that play influential roles in regional and global affairs.
Officials familiar with the discussions say the focus on investment, energy and infrastructure reflects Pakistan’s priority of attracting long-term sustainable capital rather than short-term financial aid.
The UAE has expressed interest in sectors such as renewable energy, ports, logistics, information technology and agriculture, areas in which Pakistan sees significant growth potential.
At the same time, defense and security cooperation remains a key pillar of Pakistan-UAE relations. Joint exercises, training exchanges and defense collaboration have continued over the years, supported by mutual trust and strategic alignment.
The exchange of views on regional and international developments during the meeting also highlights the common interest of Pakistan and the UAE for stability in South Asia, the Middle East and the Muslim world at large. The two countries have traditionally closely coordinated regional crises and diplomatic initiatives at international forums.
For Islamabad, the visit of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed is of both symbolic and substantial importance. This demonstrates the UAE’s continued engagement with Pakistan at the highest level and reinforces the message that bilateral relations remain insulated from regional volatility and global economic uncertainty.
The visit also reinforces Pakistan’s narrative that it is a reliable strategic partner for the Gulf states, especially at a time when the region is experiencing rapid economic transformation and geopolitical realignments.
As Pakistan seeks to stabilize its economy and reposition itself as a hub of trade, transit and investment, closer ties with the UAE and other Gulf partners are increasingly seen by policymakers as a cornerstone of its external engagement strategy.
The Prime Minister’s Office described the visit as an important step that would further strengthen the brotherly relations and strategic partnership between Pakistan and the UAE, a relationship that both sides appear keen to deepen in the coming months.
