Brussels, 7 June 2022
Tomorrow, Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, will travel to Abu Dhabi and Dubai to meet with key representatives and lay the ground for a renewed partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The visit will be the first opportunity to discuss the new Joint Communication on a ‘Strategic Partnership with the Gulf’ during meetings with the Minister of State for International Cooperation, Al Hashimy; Minister of State for International Cooperation responsible for Africa, Sheikh Shakhboot; and with the Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), Al Suwaidi.
The Joint Communication offers a basis to strengthen EU-Gulf relations in the coming years. The Commissioner’s visit aims to reinforce the EU’s partnership with the UAE and financial institutions of the Gulf, and further deepen cooperation on joint priorities, including Africa.
Ahead of the visit, Commissioner Urpilainen said:
“In these challenging times, we need to deepen our partnerships across the world and build important synergies for sustainable investments with the Gulf countries, in the region and beyond. With the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, we seek to engage with all partners to build the foundations of a more sustainable and prosperous world. We count on our Gulf partners’ transformational contribution in this regard.”
Commissioner Urpilainen will visit the Abu Dhabi Youth Hub, one of the 13 collaborative spaces in UAE open to young people between 15 and 35 years, irrespective of whether they are students, employees or entrepreneurs. Youth Hubs are designed to serve the youth of the respective Emirate, accommodating their needs and aspirations. Commissioner Urpilainen will also will give a lecture at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA) and visit the Grand Mosque.