This will be the second visit by the Emirati president this year, after meeting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Rahim Yar Khan in January. According to the Foreign Office (FO), President Al Nahyan will review bilateral relations with PM Shehbaz and discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The visit aims to strengthen the longstanding brotherly relations between Pakistan and the UAE, focusing on trade, investment, energy, development, and regional stability. Pakistan and the UAE have close diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties, supported by historical connections and a large Pakistani expatriate community in the Emirates.

Also Read: Islamabad declares local holiday on December 26

The UAE is one of Pakistan’s top trading partners and a major source of remittances, with thousands of Pakistanis working across various sectors. The countries also collaborate on defence, energy, and investment projects, with the UAE providing financial aid and humanitarian support to Pakistan.

Earlier this year, Pakistan and the UAE signed multiple Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) to strengthen cooperation. These included cultural collaboration, a joint consular affairs committee, and the UAE-Pakistan Joint Business Council through their respective Chambers of Commerce.