President Meloni meets with the President of the United Arab Emirates

As part of the first State Visit of a President of the United Arab Emirates to Italy, the President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, received His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Palazzo Chigi today.

The meeting confirmed the extraordinary level of excellence that has been achieved in the bilateral relations between Italy and the United Arab Emirates over the last two years, starting with President Meloni’s visit to the UAE in March 2023.

Today, investments by the United Arab Emirates in Italy worth USD 40 billion were announced, and more than 40 agreements were signed, at both governmental level, including an agreement to further boost defence cooperation, and in the private sector, with a business forum being held that was attended by over 200 Italian and Emirati economic operators.

The two leaders agreed to develop a comprehensive strategic partnership, focusing cooperation between the two nations on the most future-oriented sectors of the economy, by harnessing Italian and Emirati innovation capabilities in strategic areas such as artificial intelligence and the creation of data centres, advanced industry and new technologies, digital and energy interconnections, underwater technologies, critical minerals and space.

The visit also provided an opportunity for the two leaders to discuss the major global challenges, and in particular Ukraine and the Middle East. 

In the context of the Mattei Plan for Africa, President Meloni and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan also confirmed their desire to strengthen trilateral cooperation with African nations, based on a specific partnership established during the visit as well as on agreements with the Emirati private sector aimed at facilitating co-investments in Africa’s energy and water sectors.

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Following the bilateral meeting, President Meloni delivered a speech at the Italy-UAE Business Forum at the Hotel Parco dei Principi in Rome.