Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met in Rahim Yar Khan to push Pakistan–UAE ties toward a deeper, strategic economic partnership.
High-level meeting in Rahim Yar Khan
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has renewed his resolve to elevate Pakistan’s longstanding relationship with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) into a strategic and mutually beneficial economic partnership. He made the commitment during a high-level meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Sheikh Zayed Palace in Rahim Yar Khan.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and other senior officials. The two leaders used the opportunity to carry forward the “substantive talks” they had held just days earlier during the Emirati president’s first official visit to Pakistan as head of state.
The back-to-back engagements underline the importance both sides attach to the bilateral relationship and their shared interest in long-term economic and strategic cooperation.
Pledge to boost trade and strategic economic cooperation
During the discussions, Prime Minister Shehbaz stressed the need for both countries to work actively toward a “quantum jump” in bilateral trade. He said that existing trade volumes do not yet reflect the full potential of Pakistan–UAE ties and called for efforts to push economic cooperation to a much higher level.
The two leaders also explored ways to deepen collaboration in key sectors, including information technology, energy, minerals and defence. Pakistan is seeking greater investment in areas such as digital infrastructure, renewable energy, mining and industrial projects, while the UAE is looking to expand its presence in strategic markets and supply chains across the region.
By framing the relationship as a strategic economic partnership, Islamabad aims to move beyond traditional aid and remittance flows toward more structured, long-term investment and joint ventures that can support sustainable growth and job creation inside Pakistan.
UAE’s role as host to millions of Pakistani workers
Prime Minister Shehbaz used the meeting to thank the UAE leadership for hosting around 2.1 million Pakistani expatriates. He noted that these workers are playing a vital role in strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries and contribute significantly to Pakistan’s economy through remittances.
Pakistani workers in the UAE are engaged in a wide range of sectors, including construction, services, retail, healthcare, logistics and technology. Their presence has helped embed Pakistan–UAE relations at the social and community level, beyond government-to-government interaction.
Shehbaz Sharif also praised the UAE’s rapid development under Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed’s leadership, describing it as a model of dynamic and visionary governance. He said Pakistan hopes to expand partnerships that can support skills development, technology transfer and new employment opportunities for its citizens.
Longstanding ties built on trade, investment and support
Pakistan and the UAE enjoy close diplomatic, economic and cultural ties rooted in shared history and strong people-to-people contacts. The UAE is one of Pakistan’s largest trading partners and a key source of foreign investment, with Emirati companies active in sectors such as ports, energy, real estate and aviation.
Over the years, the UAE has frequently provided financial support and humanitarian assistance to Pakistan, including in times of natural disasters and economic difficulty. In return, Pakistan has supported the UAE through defence cooperation, training and security partnerships, helping to build a broad-based relationship that extends well beyond commercial links.
In April this year, both countries signed several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to further deepen cooperation. These included agreements in the field of culture and the creation of a joint committee for consular affairs to improve services for citizens.
New platforms to strengthen business and cultural links
Business communities from both sides are also working to unlock new opportunities. One of the key recent developments has been the establishment of the UAE–Pakistan Joint Business Council, created through an MoU between the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
The council is expected to provide a structured platform for regular dialogue between business leaders, helping to identify priority sectors, address bottlenecks and encourage new investments and joint ventures.
Combined with high-level political engagement and a shared commitment to regional stability, these initiatives signal that both Pakistan and the UAE want to move their relationship into a new phase. For Islamabad, the goal is clear: turn historic goodwill into a forward-looking, strategic economic partnership that delivers tangible benefits for citizens on both sides.
