UAE President Zayed Al Nahyan in Pakistan on first official visit

President to meet PM Shehbaz, discuss ‘entire spectrum of bilateral relations’ with focus on minerals

President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates landed in Islamabad on Friday for his first official visit to Pakistan since taking office.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir received the Emirati leader at Nur Khan Airbase, where Pakistani military jets escorted his aircraft as it entered the country's airspace and rendered an aerial salute, according to the UAE's official news agency WAM.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif welcomes President of UAE H.E. Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan upon his arrival at Noor Khan Base today.

(Rawalpindi: 26 December, 2025) pic.twitter.com/5TsP9YM2ML

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) December 26, 2025

An official welcoming ceremony was held at the airbase, featuring the playing of both national anthems, a 21-gun salute, and a guard of honour presentation for the visiting dignitary.

Federal ministers including Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, and Attaullah Tarar were also present at the reception. Shehbaz introduced cabinet members to the UAE president during the ceremony.

This marks President Nahyan's second trip to Pakistan this year, following an earlier meeting with Shehbaz in Rahim Yar Khan in January. The president is travelling with a high-level delegation that includes presidential advisers Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, UAE Ambassador to Pakistan Salem Mohammed Al Zaabi, and several ministers and senior government officials.

During the visit, President Nahyan is scheduled to meet Shehbaz and discuss "the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest," according to the Foreign Office. The leaders are to discuss cooperation in minerals, specifically.

The FO said the visit offers a significant opportunity to further deepen the longstanding fraternal relationship between the two nations.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz welcomed the UAE president's visit, saying relations between Pakistan and the UAE are "timeless and exemplary." She expressed pride that the UAE president chose Pakistan for his first official visit.

Pakistan and the UAE maintain diplomatic, economic, and cultural connections, reinforced by historical bonds and a substantial Pakistani diaspora in the Emirates. The UAE ranks among Pakistan's major trading partners and serves as a vital source of remittances, with a large Pakistani workforce employed across various sectors in the Gulf state.

Read: Shehbaz urges UAE to invest in key sectors

Earlier this week, Shehbaz expressed Pakistan's interest in attracting greater UAE investment in sectors such as energy, minerals, information technology, railways, and aviation during discussions with UAE Ambassador Zaabi.

President Nahyan will reportedly hunt in Rahim Yar Khan. This is a practice that is common among Middle Eastern royal families, who visit Pakistan in the winter season to hunt animals, particularly the Houbara Bustards. Notably, hunting of this bird is illegal.

On Friday, the Islamabad district administration declared a local holiday in the capital to accommodate the visit, though essential services including hospitals, law enforcement, municipal operations, and utility providers are to continue normal operations.

Islamabad Police announced traffic diversions on the Expressway and Murree Road/Club Road from 11.00am to 3.00pm due to the visit. Commuters travelling on the Expressway from Rawat were advised to use the Rawalpindi-Peshawar Road instead, while those on IJP Road and Srinagar Highway were directed to use inner-city service roads.

Read More: Pakistan, UAE sign multiple agreements to boost bilateral ties

Police also recommended leaving 20 to 25 extra minutes for travel and deployed traffic officers across the city to assist citizens.

In April, the two nations signed several memoranda of understanding covering cultural cooperation, consular affairs coordination, and the establishment of a UAE-Pakistan Joint Business Council linking their respective chambers of commerce.