European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during her visit to Abu Dhabi today. The high-level meeting was an opportunity to discuss various aspects of cooperation between the EU and the UAE.

During their meeting, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and President von der Leyen engaged in fruitful discussions regarding regional and international developments, with a focus on the upcoming COP28 climate conference, scheduled to be hosted by the UAE later this year. Both leaders emphasized the critical importance of strengthening international cooperation to address shared global challenges. These challenges encompass advancing climate action, realizing sustainable development goals, and fostering economic prosperity.

The meeting was attended by a distinguished group of officials, underlining the significance of the high-level engagement. Notable attendees included Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Advisor for Special Affairs at the Ministry of the Presidential Court; Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation; Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology; Mohamed Hassan Al Suwaidi, Minister of Investment; Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade; Ali Saeed Al Neyadi, Chairman of the National Crisis, Emergency, and Disaster Management Authority; and Mohamed Al Sahlawi, UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and the European Union. Also in attendance was the newly appointed EU Ambassador to the UAE, H.E. Lucie Berger, along with the delegation accompanying the President of the European Commission.

President Ursula von der Leyen's visit reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to strengthening cooperation with the European Union and addressing global challenges collaboratively. It underscored the enduring partnership and mutual respect that continue to shape the future of these two regions.