ISLAMABAD (TDI): Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) held high-level discussions on Sunday to review bilateral relations and explore ways to enhance trade and economic cooperation. The meetings, attended by senior Pakistani officials, underscore the long-standing friendship and strategic partnership between the two nations.
UAE Ambassador Salem Mohammed Al Zaabi met with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, as well as Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi, Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani, and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.
The UAE embassy stated on the social media platform X that the discussions covered the latest regional and international developments, along with shared interests and opportunities for cooperation. In a separate meeting with Finance Minister Aurangzeb, Ambassador Al Zaabi focused on strengthening economic and trade ties.
Pakistan and the UAE share cordial relations rooted in common faith, culture, and economic engagement. The Gulf nation is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner, after China and the United States, and hosts approximately two million Pakistani expatriates. These expatriates contribute significantly to Pakistan’s foreign remittances, making the UAE the country’s second-largest source of such inflows after Saudi Arabia.
Over the past two decades, the UAE has invested more than $10 billion in Pakistan, according to the Gulf state’s foreign ministry. Pakistani policymakers view the UAE as an ideal export market due to its geographic proximity, which helps reduce transportation costs and facilitates trade.
Recently, both nations have signed agreements worth billions of dollars to expand cooperation in areas such as railways, economic zones, and infrastructure. Significantly, in January 2024, Pakistan and the UAE finalized deals exceeding $3 billion, highlighting their commitment to deepening economic and commercial ties.
Previously, on 23 February 2025, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar held bilateral talks with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, where he underscored Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with the UAE. Dar also highlighted the vital role of the Pakistani diaspora in fostering closer ties between the two nations.
“Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan reaffirmed the UAE’s steadfast commitment to deepening its strategic relationship with Pakistan.” “He acknowledged Pakistan’s significant contributions to regional stability and praised the positive impact of the Pakistani community on the UAE’s development.”
Minahil Khurshid holds a Master's in Peace and Conflict Studies from NUST. She is passionate about current affairs, public policy, and geopolitics.
