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The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned the terrorist attack that targeted a mosque in a village located in southwestern Niger, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries of innocent people.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) affirmed that the UAE expresses its strong condemnation of these criminal acts and its permanent rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability in contravention of international law.

The Ministry expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the government and people of Niger, and to the families of the victims of this terrorist attack, as well as its wishes of a speedy recovery for all the injured.

Her Excellency Noura Bint Mohammed Al Kaabi participated in the Raisina Dialogue 2025 in New Delhi, joining the panel discussion titled “Destiny or Destination: Culture, Connectivity and Tourism.”

Speaking alongside eminent global voices, H.E. Al Kaabi underscored the UAE’s leadership in promoting cultural exchange, enhancing tourism connectivity, and fostering people-to-people ties. She emphasized how the UAE’s inclusive society and forward-looking vision have positioned it as a global hub for travel, creativity, and innovation. H.E. Al Kaabi also underscored the deep-rooted UAE-India relationship, highlighting the contributions of the Indian diaspora in shaping the UAE’s social and economic landscape.

“Culture is at the heart of every thriving, future-ready nation. India’s imprint is deeply woven into the UAE’s cultural and social fabric. The contributions of the Indian diaspora have not only shaped our skylines but strengthened our communities. Together, we are building a partnership defined by shared heritage, creativity, and lasting connections,” H.E. Al Kaabi remarked.

As part of the Raisina Dialogue’s Ideas Pod series, H.E. Al Kaabi, joined H.E. Ambassador Navdeep Suri, Distinguished Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), for a timely and insightful conversation on the evolving landscape of public diplomacy. In the 20-minute podcast, hosted by ORF, H.E. Al Kaabi explored the UAE’s holistic soft power strategy, the central role of cultural diplomacy in fostering mutual understanding, and the country's values of tolerance and coexistence as drivers of international engagement. She also reflected on how artificial intelligence is transforming diplomacy, offering both exciting opportunities and serious challenges for ethical, people-centered communication.Drawing on key examples such as Expo 2020, the Abrahamic Family House, and AI-powered “Smart Embassies,” Her Excellency emphasized that in an interconnected world, diplomacy must move beyond traditional power structures to focus on trust, understanding, and shared progress. The conversation was a reaffirmation of the UAE’s commitment to building bridges—both digital and human—through inclusive and innovative public diplomacy.

The Raisina Dialogue is India’s premier conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, committed to addressing the most pressing issues facing the global community. Hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in partnership with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, the conference brings together global leaders, policymakers, business leaders, and thought leaders to engage in cross-sectoral dialogue on contemporary global challenges.

In an effort to further deepen cultural ties between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of India, Her Excellency Noura Bint Mohammed Al Kaabi co-chaired a high-level delegation meeting with K. Nandini Singla, Director General of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).

The UAE delegation included His Excellency Mubarak Al Nakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture; His Excellency Ghanem Al Hajeri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports; His Excellency Abdulnasser Alshaali, UAE Ambassador to India; and His Excellency Abdelrahman Al Maeeni, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy.

The meeting focused on the operationalization of the India-UAE Cultural Council, alongside efforts to foster people-to-people connections and enhance collaboration across the arts, education, creative industries, heritage conservation, and youth engagement, as well as other areas.

A key highlight of the meeting was a discussion on the establishment of the India House in the UAE. The India House concept is envisioned as a cultural hub to showcase India’s rich artistic and cultural heritage on a global scale. Additionally, both sides explored ways to support creative start-ups, business-to-business collaborations, and the formation of thematic sub-committees to oversee cooperation across priority areas.

“The meeting with Mrs. Nandini Singla and the ICCR delegation served as a symbol of the UAE and India’s shared commitment to developing enhanced cultural and creative partnerships. By expanding cultural exchanges and fostering collaboration across our dynamic art and creative communities, we are ensuring that the enduring ties between our two nations continues to flourish, ” H.E. Al Kaabi said.

The meeting concluded with both delegations affirming their intent to implement outcome-oriented initiatives in line with the vision set by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, and the Honorable Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India.

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a congratulatory message to President Asif Ali Zardari of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on the occasion of his country's National Day.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, also sent similar messages to President Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on the occasion.

His Excellency Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, participated in a ministerial meeting, convened by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, on ‘Tackling water security across the climate-nature-development nexus’, to underscore the need for urgent collective action and sustained leadership on the global water crisis.

H.E. Balalaa also attended a reception ceremony hosted at Buckingham Palace by His Majesty King Charles III, on ‘Water and Climate’, in collaboration with WaterAid.

The Ministerial meeting, held a few days prior to World Water Day (22 March), was chaired by Her Excellency Baroness Chapman, the United Kingdom’s Minister of State for International Development, Latin America and the Caribbean. It also brought together Ministers from Morocco, Senegal, Nigeria, Nepal and Bangladesh, as well as senior leaders from the European Union and key multilateral institutions and international organizations – including the European Commission, the World Bank, UNICEF, UN Water, Water Aid, and the Global Commission on the Economics of Water. The meeting aims to identify priority areas of collaboration over the next year for a systemic and responsible shift in addressing water security across the climate-nature-development nexus.

During the session, H.E. Balalaa highlighted the UAE’s preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference, and emphasized that the event will focus on accelerating the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6, stating “This Goal is the catalyst and enabler of all our global societal, environmental and economic goals.”

Building on the discussion of the Ministerial discussions, participants agreed to leverage key moments in the year ahead to build and sustain work in providing clean water to enable the delivery of all SDGs; work in multi-stakeholder partnerships to drive scalable, innovative and inclusive solutions to the water crisis; and cooperate with existing UN processes to strengthen the integration of water within the multilateral international agenda.  

The Ministerial meeting convened following the Organizational Session of the 2026 UN Water Conference, which took place on March 3rd, 2025, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, where over 70 participants – including both Member States and stakeholders – shared their recommendations for the themes of the interactive dialogues of the Conference. The themes will be decided in a preparatory meeting convened by the President of the General Assembly on July 9th, 2025.

On behalf of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot Bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, attended the inauguration ceremony of Her Excellency Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of the Republic of Namibia, which was held in the capital, Windhoek, following her presidential election win.
 
His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot Bin Nahyan conveyed the greetings of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, to H.E. President Nandi-Ndaitwah, along with their wishes for further development and prosperity for the government and people of Namibia.
 
Furthermore, H.E. Sheikh Shakhboot Bin Nahyan affirmed the UAE leadership’s commitment to enhancing bilateral relations to serve the interests of both countries and their peoples.
 
For her part, H.E. President Nandi-Ndaitwah, conveyed her greetings to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, and expressed her wishes for further progress and development for the government and people of the UAE.
 
Furthermore, Her Excellency commended the close ties between the two countries, and the continuous joint efforts to enhance them.

His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot Bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, received His Excellency Lutfullah Goktas, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the UAE, to discuss topics of mutual interest, including ways of enhancing cooperation between the two countries, particularly in economy and trade.
 
During the meeting, the two sides covered developments in Africa, and discussed the latest regional issues of mutual interest to both countries.
 
Furthermore, H.E. Sheikh Shakhboot Bin Nahyan wished the ambassador success in his work to enhance bilateral relations between the UAE and Türkiye.

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a message of congratulations to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of Namibia on the occasion of her country's Independence Day.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, also sent similar messages to the Namibian President and Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila on the occasion.

The United Arab Emirates and the Republic of South Sudan, along with international participation, led a high-level humanitarian visit to Gorom Refugee Camp in Juba, demonstrating solidarity with displaced communities who fled conflict in neighboring countries, including Sudanese refugees.
 
The visit was led by His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot Bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, alongside senior South Sudanese officials and high-level delegations from several countries, including Her Excellency Birtkuan Ayano, Minister of State of Ethiopia. The visit also included delegations from regional organizations, humanitarian agencies, ambassadors, and members of the diplomatic corps in South Sudan, where they discussed strengthening humanitarian responses and long-term solutions for refugees. Additionally, participants took part in the distribution of food packages to refugees in the camp.
 
The visit coincided with Zayed Humanitarian Day – celebrated by the UAE on the 19th of Ramadan of each year – which reflects the country’s values of compassion, coexistence, and tolerance. The UAE’s extensive endeavors continue to support and provide relief to people in need. In this regard, the country’s continuous efforts to provide food and relief supplies to countries worldwide consolidate the nation’s position as a global humanitarian leader.
 
On March 7, 2025, the UAE inaugurated Madhol Field Hospital in the Northern Bahr el Ghazal state of the Republic of South Sudan, which has a 100-bed capacity, and several specialized clinics to treat approximately two million people from the host community, South Sudanese returning from Sudan, and Sudanese refugees.

The hospital aims to address urgent healthcare requirements, especially in areas with limited healthcare services. This hospital is the third healthcare facility built by the UAE to provide medical services to Sudanese refugees in neighboring countries. The facility follows the successful establishment of two field hospitals in Amdjarass and Abéché, Chad that has provided medical care to approximately 90,000 people.
 
His Excellency said, "Since its founding, humanitarian aid and the protection of civilians, particularly the sick, children, the elderly, and women, have served as the foundation of the UAE's policy and approach that prioritizes civilians’ requirements and fulfills their needs."
 
Furthermore, His Excellency underscored the UAE’s steadfast and unwavering commitment to support all efforts to address this catastrophic crisis and to work alongside regional and international partners to ensure stability and peace for the Sudanese people.
 
His Excellency added, “The UAE announced an additional USD 200 million of aid during the High-Level Humanitarian Conference for the People of Sudan, held in Addis Ababa. The conference, the first to be held for Sudan this year, will serve as a catalyst for future conferences that are scheduled to assist the people of Sudan. The pledge made during the conference was not merely an announcement but rather a call to the international community for action and participation.”
 
His Excellency further highlighted that since the onset of the crisis, the UAE has provided USD 600.4 million to support a humanitarian response. Furthermore, the UAE has provided USD 3.5 billion of humanitarian aid over the past 10 years, dispatched 160 aircraft carrying relief aid, and distributed 12,000 tonnes of food, medical, and relief supplies to the people of Sudan.
 
His Excellency Mangar Buong Aluong, Deputy Minister of Interior of South Sudan, affirmed the UAE’s unwavering commitment to supporting the Sudanese people. The humanitarian high-level visit to Gorom refugee camp in Juba demonstrates the UAE’s keenness to strengthen international cooperation and collaborations to enhance the humanitarian response for refugees and displaced persons, while meeting their essential needs.
 
H.E. Aluong stated, “We are all aware of the significant challenges facing refugees and displaced persons in South Sudan, who are in urgent need of humanitarian support across all levels, with some cases requiring life-saving medications and treatment. It is extremely unfortunate that many refugees and displaced persons are unable to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan due to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, and insufficient access to humanitarian aid.”
 
For her part, Her Excellency Birtkuan Ayano, Minister of State of Ethiopia, expressed her gratitude to the UAE and South Sudan for organizing this humanitarian visit, which provided insight into the tragic situation of the refugees and displaced persons during Ramadan.
 
Her Excellency said, “What we have witnessed is painful, and we must all work together for them and show them empathy. There is nothing more painful than witnessing the elderly, mothers, and children, who have been displaced from their war-torn homes, losing their normal lives through no fault of their own.”
 
Her Excellency further affirmed the importance of taking into consideration refugees and displaced persons in different areas who are also facing dire circumstances.
 
H.E. Ayano reiterated her deep gratitude for the opportunity to participate in this initiative, affirming her country’s commitment to continuously work alongside regional and international partners to provide the necessary humanitarian support for all refugees and displaced persons.
 
Furthermore, Her Excellency expressed her gratitude to the UAE for its sustainable humanitarian support for refugees and displaced persons, and to the government of South Sudan for providing them with refuge. H.E. also underscored her commitment to continuously work to mitigate their situation and provide all possible support.
 
For his part, His Excellency Monday Semeya, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Sudan, welcomed all delegations to the city of Juba. He expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the UAE for the support provided to the Gorom refugee camp, an initiative demonstrating the importance of reinforcing the values of solidarity, international collaborations, and extending a helping hand to people facing conflicts and urgent crises.
 
H.E. Semeya emphasized that the crisis in Sudan has caused the displacement of 1.1 million people. This necessitates collaboration to provide assistance for everyone to meet their essential needs, and alleviate their suffering.

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, received Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia.

During the meeting held today in Abu Dhabi, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah welcomed the Liberian Foreign Minister, and both sides discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation across various sectors.

Sheikh Abdullah reaffirmed the strong ties between the UAE and Liberia and the UAE’s commitment to fostering advanced relations with the West African nation.
The two ministers also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The meeting was attended by Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, and Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation.

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a congratulatory message to President Kais Saied of Tunisia on the occasion of his country's Independence Day.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, dispatched similar messages to President Saied and to Prime Minister Kamel Madouri on the occasion.

Her Excellency Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs and Envoy of the Foreign Minister to the European Union, concluded a two-day visit to Brussels on 17 and 18 March 2025, where she represented the United Arab Emirates at the 9th Brussels Conference on ‘Standing with Syria: Meeting the Needs for a Successful Transition’.

The conference brought together EU institutions, key partner countries, the United Nations and other international organizations, and Syrian civil society, to mobilize global support for an inclusive and peaceful transition in Syria. Participants pledged assistance to ensure sustained support for Syrians, both within the country, and in countries across the region. They discussed ways to ensure the voluntary large-scale return of refugees in a way that will lessen burdens on host communities without overwhelming limited support infrastructure in Syria.

In her remarks, HE Nusseibeh commended the efforts of the assembled countries and organizations in helping to ensure a better future for Syria, and for the region. In this context, she placed special emphasis on the importance of a fully inclusive transition process in Syria, and stressed the essential part that women must play in achieving sustainable peace. “There is a strong link between the active engagement of women in negotiating peace agreements, and the long-term durability of those post-conflict settlements”, Nusseibeh said. “We must not close our eyes to this well-established fact. For Syria’s full potential to be reached, Syrian women must have a seat at the table.” 

She furthermore stressed the importance of promoting tolerance and countering extremism and terrorism, urging close cooperation to ensure that terrorist groups cannot re-establish a safe haven on Syrian territory.  In this context, she condemned the recent attacks on Syrian security forces by armed groups, and violence perpetrated against civilians, calling for full accountability for perpetrators.

She affirmed the UAE’s long-standing support for the people of Syria, amounting to more than EUR 1.5bn in UAE aid to the people in Syria and Syrian refugees in neighboring countries since the start of the conflict, including EUR 250m in the past two years.  

Nusseibeh also reaffirmed the UAE’s clear position in supporting Syria’s stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and in this context urged Israel to abide by international law and the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement.

In addition to participating in the conference, Her Excellency held discussions with EU officials, Members of the European Parliament, and with senior diplomats from Europe and the Middle East.

A UAE delegation including Dr. Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and Ahmed Bin Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State, has visited Brussels, Belgium, for meetings with senior European Union (EU) officials and members of the Belgian government to strengthen economic ties, promote investment opportunities, and identity areas for further collaboration.

The EU is the UAE’s second-largest global trade partner, sharing $67.6 billion in non-oil trade 2024, a 3.6% increase on 2023 and 18.1% more than was recorded in 2022. The EU now accounts for 8.3% of the UAE’s total non-oil foreign trade.

During talks with Maros Sefcovic, EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Al Zeyoudi reviewed the key drivers behind the UAE’s strong trade relations with the EU, particularly in advanced manufacturing, healthcare and e-commerce. The two sides also identified opportunities for increased investment flows into high-growth sectors such as logistics and renewable energy.

Highlighting the deep economic and business ties between the UAE and European Union, Al Zeyoudi said: “The European Union is a highly valued trade and investment partner for the UAE, with ties that continue to deepen across a range of sectors. This is evidenced not only by increasing trade exchanges but also through strategic collaboration in areas such as food security, energy transition and advanced technology. Both sides believe there is significant potential to maintain the positive trajectory of bilateral trade and investment flows – both on an EU-wide level and with individual member nations. This week’s meetings have underlined the benefits of doing so.”

For his part, Ahmed Bin Ali Al Sayegh said that closer ties are essential to navigating a challenging global economy. “The UAE has long recognised the importance of constructive dialogue, particularly on matters of trade and global supply chains. Both the UAE and the EU are committed to ensuring that trade remains open and accessible and this week’s meetings have enabled us to identify areas of collaboration that can preserve the free flow of goods and services between our economies. We look forward to building on these foundations and ensuring we can deliver prosperity for both our peoples.”

Al Zeyoudi also participated in a roundtable discussion on UAE trade policy at the European Policy Centre (EPC) alongside Fabian Zuleeg, Chief Executive and Chief Economist of the EPC, where they discussed the imperative of preserving open, rules-based trade. During the session, Dr Thani highlighted the extensive benefits of the UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) program, through which the UAE as concluded 27 deals to date. He also emphasised the opportunities for further collaboration between the UAE and the EU in key areas such as food security, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and artificial intelligence.

Al Sayegh and Al Zeyoudi held a bilateral meeting with Maria Luis Albuquerque, EU Commissioner for Financial Services and Financial Stability, to discuss the key role of the financial sector in facilitating global trade. The two sides highlighted ways to improve small businesses' access to supply chains, reduce trade barriers, and enhance cross-border payments through financial technology solutions, including blockchain and decentralised finance.

While in Brussels, Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi and Ahmed Bin Ali Al Sayegh also held meetings with senior officials in the Belgium government, including Maxime Prévot, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Theo Francken, Minister of Foreign Trade, Annelies Verlinden, Minister of Justice of the Kingdom of Belgium, and David Clarinval, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Employment, Economy, and Agriculture. Bilateral non-oil trade between the UAE and Belgium reached $4.7 billion in 2024, and both sides agreed to create more pathways for cooperation, particularly in sectors such as energy, logistics and manufacturing.

Al Zeyoudi was joined in Brussels by Ahmed Bin Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State, Saeed Al Hajeri, Assistant Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs, and Juma Al Kait, Assistant Under Secretary for Foreign Trade Affairs. The visit to Brussels, and the UAE’s expanding economic ties with the European Union, underscore the country’s forward-looking vision to cement its position as a global leader in trade and investment by enhancing partnerships with all 27 member states of the bloc.

The United Arab Emirates has announced the success of mediation efforts in a new exchange of war captives between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Ukraine, which included 175 Ukrainian captives and 175 Russian captives - 350 captives in total - bringing the overall number exchanged through UAE mediation efforts to 3,233.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) expressed its appreciation to the Russian Federation and the Republic of Ukraine for their cooperation with the UAE’s mediation endeavors. This reflects the appreciation of both countries for the UAE’s role in supporting all efforts to resolve the crisis between the two nations.

The Ministry emphasized that the success of this mediation, the thirteenth, reflects the distinguished ties between the UAE and the two countries.

Furthermore, the Ministry reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to ensuring the success of all efforts aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine, and mitigating the humanitarian impacts as a result of the crisis, including on refugees and captives.

The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned the terrorist assassination attempt on His Excellency Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, which resulted in several deaths and injuries to innocent people. 

His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, affirmed the UAE’s strong condemnation of these criminal acts and its permanent rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability in contravention of international law.

His Excellency expressed the UAE’s sincere condolences and sympathy to the government and people of Somalia, and to the families of the victims of this terrorist attack, as well as its wishes for a speedy recovery for all the injured.

Her Excellency Noora Mohammed Juma, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Latvia, presented her credentials as Non-Resident Ambassador of the UAE to the Republic of Lithuania, to His Excellency Gitanas Nausėda, President of Lithuania, during a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace in the capital, Vilnius.

Her Excellency conveyed the greetings of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, to H.E. President Nausėda, along with their wishes for further development and prosperity to the government and people of Lithuania.

For his part, H.E. President Nausėda conveyed his greetings to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, and expressed his wishes for further progress and growth for the government and people of the UAE.

H.E. President Nausėda wished the ambassador success in her endeavors to enhance bilateral relations in various fields between both countries, stressing his country's readiness to provide all possible support to facilitate her duties.

For her part, Her Excellency expressed her pride in representing the UAE in the Republic of Lithuania, and highlighted her keenness to enhance cooperation across various sectors, which contributes to consolidating ties between both nations.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed areas of cooperation between the UAE and the Republic of Lithuania and ways of developing them to achieve the interests and aspirations of both countries and their peoples.

H.E. Omar Obaid Al Hassan Al Shamsi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, received a copy of the credentials of H.E. Oumar Teguen Idibei Berde, Ambassador of the Republic of Chad to the UAE.

His Excellency wished the new Ambassador of Chad success in the performance of his duties and emphasized the UAE’s keenness to enhance the relations between the UAE and Chad in all fields.

The newly appointed Ambassador praised the leading and prestigious position that the UAE enjoys regionally and internationally under the visionary policy of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has announced the opening of applications for its 2025 Scholarship Program, running from May 1 to June 1. The program supports outstanding Emirati students in pursuing higher education abroad at 60 leading international universities, specializing in key diplomatic fields. It aims to develop national talent and equip future diplomats with the expertise to contribute to the UAE’s foreign policy and global presence.

This initiative fosters innovation and excellence in diplomacy, empowering scholars to excel in the diplomatic corps. It also strengthens MOFA with skilled national talent, capable of shaping UAE foreign policy and making a global impact.

MOFA’s scholarship program aligns with its vision to develop diplomatic expertise that adapts to global changes and strengthens the UAE’s international presence. It aims to equip a new generation of highly qualified diplomats with the skills to lead in international relations, emphasizing competence and excellence.

MOFA requires applicants to be UAE nationals with a valid passport, family book, and certified good conduct. Candidates must be between 17 and 22 years old and achieve a minimum score of 80% in the Advanced and Elite secondary education streams or 90% in the General, Technical, and other curricula. They must also hold an English proficiency certificate with a minimum score of 6.5 in Academic IELTS or an equivalent TOEFL score and secure admission to a MOFA-approved university. Successful candidates are required to commit to serving in the Ministry’s diplomatic corps for a period equal to their years of study.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises prospective applicants to visit its official website at https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/scholarship to review the necessary documents and application requirements. The scholarship program encompasses three primary stages: first, scholars complete their undergraduate studies abroad; second, they enroll at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy to obtain a specialized postgraduate diploma in diplomacy and international relations; and finally, upon fulfilling graduation requirements, they are appointed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and join the diplomatic corps.

The United Arab Emirates has condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, that led to the deaths and injuries of hundreds of Palestinians, which constitutes a breach of the ceasefire agreement reached in January. The UAE warns of the consequences of any military escalation which threatens to cause further loss of innocent life and exacerbate the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the UAE has called on the international community to undertake urgent steps to halt escalation, affirming the importance of implementing immediate efforts to reach a ceasefire and safeguard civilians. The UAE reiterated the importance of putting an end to life-threatening punitive measures, restoring electricity, opening crossings, and facilitating the urgent, sustainable, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid. The UAE further stressed the necessity of resuming the ceasefire agreement between the two sides. 

Furthermore, the Ministry warned that the continuous Israeli airstrikes on civilians and residential areas will lead to escalating the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and a regional spill-over that risks further violence, tension, and instability.

Her Excellency Ameirah AlHefeiti presented her credentials as the UAE's Permanent Representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to His Excellency Fernando Arias, Director-General of the OPCW, during a ceremony held at the organization’s headquarters in The Hague.

H.E. AlHefeiti affirmed the UAE's commitment to fulfilling its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and enhancing cooperation with the OPCW and member states to achieve the Convention's objectives and support international peace and security.

For his part, H.E. Arias wished H.E. AlHefeiti success in her duties and affirmed the OPCW's readiness to provide all possible support to facilitate her tasks and enhance cooperation.

For her part, H.E. AlHefeiti expressed her pride in representing the UAE at the OPCW, highlighting her commitment to support the organization's goals and missions and to work closely with all member states to ensure the effective implementation of the convention.

H.E. AlHefeiti held a meeting with the Director-General of the OPCW, where they discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the UAE and the organization in areas of mutual interest. Furthermore, the meeting emphasized the importance of strengthening joint efforts to achieve the objectives of the convention and support international peace and security.