Emirates and Morocco strengthen ties with meeting between Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and King Mohammed VI
The King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, paid a private visit to Abu Dhabi to meet with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, demonstrating the closeness and close cooperation that exists between the two Arab nations.
The visit was private and no further details of the agenda or activities were provided on the occasion of this state visit.
The history of cooperation and good diplomatic relations between the Emirates and Morocco is long and the understanding between the two heads of state is complete.
Relations between Morocco and the Emirates are excellent, especially since the signing of the declaration entitled ‘Towards an innovative, renewed and strong partnership between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United Arab Emirates’ in Abu Dhabi on 4 December 2023. This agreement forged the basis for expanding bilateral relations and cooperation to new horizons through the establishment of effective economic partnerships aimed at benefiting common interests and promoting the development and welfare of both nations.
During that visit, King Mohammed VI and President Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan signed a number of memoranda of understanding to strengthen economic relations and bilateral ties. These agreements have laid the groundwork for cooperation in critical areas such as energy, investment and infrastructure.
On the other hand, during the Moroccan king's last visit to the Emirates, a highly strategic project could also have been discussed between the monarch Mohammed VI and Mauritanian President Mohammed Ould Ghazouani.
The Mauritanian president also paid a private visit, but coincided with the Moroccan king in the Emirate, which is striking.
This coincidence in the Emirates is not fortuitous, according to several observers. An exceptionally important project would be at the centre of the meeting, a project whose scale could redraw the boundaries of regional cooperation. The UAE is expected to be a key partner in this initiative, the outlines of which remain, at this stage, carefully guarded, according to anonymous sources.
This would mark a turning point in relations between Morocco, Mauritania and the UAE, according to experts.
The meeting between Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and King Mohammed VI marked a meeting at the highest level to strengthen ties between the two Arab nations.
Relations between Morocco and the United Arab Emirates are of a deep and strategic nature. For several years, the two nations have maintained close cooperation in various sectors, underpinned by an excellent personal relationship between the two heads of state. This partnership has proven to be both resilient and essential, as the two countries share common interests on multiple fronts, from regional security to international diplomacy, as well as deep economic cooperation, as evidenced by trade and investment data between the two nations.
Politically, North Africa and the UAE agree on key strategic issues in areas such as transnational security, with a major fight against international extremist terrorism and organised criminal gangs, and international diplomacy. This convergence reflects their shared values and commitment to promoting stability and peace on the world stage.
Great proof of this political consonance is the Abraham Accords, in which both nations participated to establish diplomatic relations with Israel under the auspices of the United States with a view to pacifying the Middle East region, promoting its social and economic development and confronting common enemies that seek to destabilise the region with an interventionist and belligerent policy, as is the case of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
On the economic level, the relationship between Morocco and the UAE is also deep, through important trade exchanges and mutual investment and collaboration in important joint projects in strategic sectors such as renewable energy, infrastructure development and trade.
A fact to bear in mind is that the Emirates remains the second largest foreign investor in Morocco after France and was the main destination country for Moroccan net outward direct investment flows (MDIE) in 2023, with 2.6 billion Moroccan dirham, according to data from the Bureau de Change.
The meeting in Abu Dhabi between President Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and King Mohammed VI reaffirms the exceptional relationship between the Emirates and Morocco and marks the roadmap for strengthening continued progress and mutual cooperation in the coming years.