ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday met with the United Arab Emirates Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in Dubai, where the two sides agreed to expand trade, investment, and economic cooperation.
The Pakistani President arrived in the UAE on Monday on a four-day official visit, accompanied by a high-level delegation.
“The two leaders discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral relations, with a focus on expanding economic, trade, and investment cooperation between Pakistan and the UAE,” the president’s office statement in a statement.
During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on benefiting from Dubai’s development experience, particularly in ports, logistics, infrastructure, information technology, and digital financial services.
Pakistan and United Arab Emirates have reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen brotherly relations@PresOfPakistan @AAliZardari #RadioPakistan #news https://t.co/NQGMSMO23L pic.twitter.com/718u1onybv
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) January 28, 2026
President Zardari highlighted Pakistan’s ongoing economic reforms, including investment facilitation and privatisation, and explored opportunities for enhanced cooperation with the UAE in infrastructure development, logistics, food security, and technology-driven sectors.
He also extended an invitation to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to visit Pakistan.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the brotherly relations between Pakistan and the UAE and expressed satisfaction with the positive momentum of bilateral ties.
The leaders emphasised the importance of high-level exchanges, recalled the recent visit of the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to Pakistan, and acknowledged the UAE’s continued support for Pakistan’s economic development.
The meeting was attended by First Lady, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari; Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Minister for Interior, Mohsin Naqvi and Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE.
On Tuesday, President Zardari met with the UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi and discussed new opportunities for cooperation in trade, investment, and other key sectors.
The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States, and a major source of foreign investment, valued at over $10 billion in the last 20 years, according to the UAE foreign ministry.
It is also home to more than a million Pakistani expatriates who send back more than $5 billion in remittances to the South Asian country annually.
The two countries regularly engage in high-level diplomatic and economic dialogues to strengthen their strategic partnership and regional stability.
The relationship emphasises mutual support, economic growth, and shared development goals, reflecting a commitment to long-term collaboration.
In January 2024, Pakistan and the UAE signed multiple agreements worth more than $3 billion for cooperation in railways, economic zones, and infrastructure sectors.
