Islamabad, Pakistan — United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is set to arrive in Pakistan today (Dec 26) on his first official visit, a high-profile diplomatic engagement aimed at deepening investment, trade, and strategic cooperation between Islamabad and Abu Dhabi.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO), President Al Nahyan will hold extensive talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and senior leadership, covering the full spectrum of bilateral relations. Key discussions are expected around UAE investment in Pakistan’s energy, infrastructure, logistics, technology, and manufacturing sectors, areas identified as priorities under Pakistan’s economic revival plans.
To underline the importance of the visit, a local holiday has been declared in Islamabad, with federal offices and courts closed for the day, while essential services remain operational. The capital has been decorated with Pakistan and UAE flags, and security arrangements have been heightened.
As part of the ceremonial welcome, Pakistan Air Force JF-17 Thunder fighter jets are scheduled to provide aerial escort to the UAE President’s aircraft upon its arrival, a gesture reflecting the depth of bilateral ties and the significance attached to the visit.
Economically, the UAE remains one of Pakistan’s most important partners. Bilateral trade has crossed $10 billion annually, while remittances from over one million Pakistanis working in the UAE form a vital pillar of Pakistan’s foreign exchange inflows. UAE investors already have a strong footprint in Pakistan’s banking, telecom, ports, aviation, and real estate sectors, and officials hope the visit will unlock fresh investment commitments and project-based partnerships.
The timing of the visit also aligns with Pakistan’s broader push to diversify external financing. Islamabad is nearing its first Panda bond launch in China, aimed at tapping new international capital markets, an effort that complements Pakistan’s outreach to Gulf partners for long-term investment and financial stability.
Beyond economics, regional developments, security cooperation, and global diplomatic issues are also expected to feature in the talks, reinforcing the long-standing “brotherly” relationship between the two countries.
As the UAE President’s official visit to Pakistan gets underway, expectations are high that it will translate into tangible economic outcomes and a renewed momentum in Pakistan-UAE relations.
