In a significant move to bolster the strong ties between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), five major agreements were signed on February 27, 2025, during the first official visit of Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Pakistan.
This was the first official visit of Sheikh Khalid to Pakistan.
5 key agreements signed
The agreements, aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation, span key sectors, including banking, railways, mining, and infrastructure investment.
- Banking Agreement: An agreement was signed to promote bilateral cooperation in the banking sector, exchanged between Secretary Finance Imdadullah Bosal and CEO & MD of IHC Syed Basar Shueb.
- Mining Cooperation Agreement: An agreement was signed to enhance cooperation in the mining sector, with documents exchanged between CEO of Pakistan Railways Amir Ali Baloch and CEO of Etihad Rail Shadi Malik.
- Railways Cooperation: Two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed to strengthen cooperation in railways, exchanged between the CEOs of Pakistan Railways and Etihad Rail.
- Infrastructure Investment MoU: An MoU was signed to foster cooperation in infrastructure investment, exchanged between Secretary of the Board of Investment Nadeem Chaudhary and CEO of AD Ports Capt. Muhammad Juma Al Shamisi.
Strengthening Pakistan-UAE cooperation across multiple sectors
The signing ceremony, held in Islamabad, witnessed the participation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled, and senior officials from both nations. The UAE is one of Pakistan’s largest trading partners in the Middle East and a critical source of remittances, with a vast Pakistani expatriate community residing in the Gulf state.
The agreements, exchanged by officials from both sides, highlight the commitment to advancing collaboration in crucial sectors such as banking, mining, and railways. Federal Cabinet members and Pakistan’s Chief of the Army Staff, General Asim Munir, along with members of the UAE delegation, were also in attendance during the momentous occasion.
PM Shehbaz highlights key Railway Project
In his address, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif drew attention to the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan Railway Line (UAPRL) project, which was a topic of discussion during his recent visit to Uzbekistan. He emphasized that the project, which has garnered interest from multiple stakeholders, would provide immense benefits to both the ports of Gwadar and Abu Dhabi.
“The project would prove to be a game changer for the whole region,” Sharif stated, underscoring the strategic importance of the railway link that aims to connect Central Asia with the Middle East and South Asia.
Pakistan thanks UAE for consistent support
PM Shehbaz also lauded the UAE’s unwavering support for Pakistan, particularly during challenging times. He remarked on the robust and growing cooperation between the two nations, especially in areas like trade, energy, and investment.
“We held the most fruitful discussions and resolved to further strengthen our excellent bilateral ties, through enhanced trade, investment & energy cooperation. With the encouragement and support of the UAE’s royal family, Pakistan-UAE ties are growing from strength to strength!” the Prime Minister stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Recognition of Crown Prince’s contribution to regional cooperation
During his day-long visit, President Asif Ali Zardari conferred Pakistan’s highest civilian honor, the Nishan-e-Pakistan, on Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled in recognition of his contributions to strengthening Pakistan-UAE relations. The ceremony, attended by high-ranking officials, was a moment of national pride for Pakistan, reflecting the deep diplomatic ties shared between the two nations.
The UAE, which has invested over $10 billion in Pakistan over the last two decades, is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner, behind China and the United States. Sheikh Khaled’s visit is seen as a testament to the UAE’s continued commitment to expanding its economic footprint in Pakistan, especially as Pakistan seeks to stabilize its economy and move forward with its IMF-backed recovery plans.