UAE envoy concludes 9-year tenure in Pakistan with farewell call
Sheikh Mohammed’s leadership praised during meeting with PM Shehbaz Sharif
DUBAI/ISLAMABAD – Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Al-Zaabi, the outgoing Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Pakistan, paid a farewell call on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister House on Monday evening.
The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kiyani, Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch.
The prime minister congratulated Ambassador Al-Zaabi on completing his tenure in Pakistan, thanking him for his contributions in strengthening the longstanding fraternal ties between the two countries. He also commended the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, for steering relations towards greater cooperation and understanding.
Growing cooperation
Highlighting recent progress, Prime Minister Sharif noted important developments, including the visits of Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He also pointed to the successful convening of the Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission and the operationalisation of the visa abolition agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders.
He added that he looked forward to welcoming His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Pakistan in an official visit, expected to add further momentum to bilateral relations.
Lasting bonds
Ambassador Al-Zaabi expressed gratitude for the support he had received during his nine-year posting, acknowledging the warmth and cooperation extended by the Government and people of Pakistan. He stressed that the unique bond between the two nations’ leaderships and citizens would continue to strengthen, and pledged his commitment to fostering closer ties even after his departure.
Both sides reflected on the depth of bilateral relations that extend across economic, diplomatic and cultural fields. The farewell call reaffirmed the importance of continuity in the partnership and the shared vision to build upon recent milestones.