The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Pakistan signed multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on Monday aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in the fields of investment, trade, culture, and consular affairs.

The signing ceremony took place in Islamabad during the two-day official visit of UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. His Pakistani counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, was also present on the occasion.

According to the Foreign Office, the two countries formalised three separate agreements — including one for the establishment of a UAE-Pakistan Joint Business Council — during Sheikh Abdullah’s visit, which began Sunday evening.

Speaking at a joint press conference alongside Mr Dar, the Emirati official expressed a strong desire to bolster investment relations with Pakistan.

“I think the people of Pakistan and the UAE want to see more progress in relations, and I want to emphasise that things have been moving much faster than in the last one or two years,” Sheikh Abdullah said.

He added that the UAE hopes to accelerate cooperation in several sectors, particularly trade, investment, and aviation.

The MoU on the Joint Business Council was signed between the UAE Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI). The council is expected to play a pivotal role in facilitating private sector engagement and boosting bilateral trade.

Another MoU focused on enhancing cultural exchange was signed between Pakistan’s National Heritage and Culture Division and the UAE Ministry of Culture. A third agreement established a Joint Committee for Consular Affairs to improve coordination between the foreign ministries of the two countries.

Welcoming the UAE dignitary at the Foreign Office earlier, Mr Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening its longstanding ties with the Gulf nation. “The visit will further strengthen the relations between our two brotherly countries,” he said.

Sheikh Abdullah, for his part, acknowledged the historical nature of UAE-Pakistan relations and emphasised their continued relevance in addressing mutual challenges and opportunities. “I have good memories of Pakistan, and I am confident that our partnership will continue to grow,” he remarked.

Pakistan and the UAE have maintained close diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties over the years. The latest visit is being viewed as a significant step toward reinvigorating those ties amid regional and global shifts.