August 27, 2025 | Dubai, UAE: On the evening of Monday, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was marked for the departure of Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Alzaabi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Pakistan, when he paid the Pakistan Prime Minister a visit. With such a meeting, the pact was sealed and the uproar of his problematic installation in Islamabad was over.
The conference that was conducted by Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kiyani, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi, and Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch, was an exchange of warm feelings and a tie map of the deep-rooted relationships between the two states-the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Highlights Strong UAE-Pakistan Ties
On his way out, the Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, spoke very highly of the Ambassador, Alzaabi upon the accomplishment of his term and acknowledged his indefatigable exercise to create bilateral ties of strength. Moreover, the Prime Minister extended his appreciation to the President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for the great uptake in the meeting between Pakistan and the UAE in many sectors.
“During your tenure, the leaders accounted for, as we have seen, the deepening of ties not just acknowledging the historic and close relations of our two friends nation but also showing it practically,” said Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Without any doubt, he termed the visits of the Foreign Minister, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the Joint Ministerial Commission meeting between Pakistan and the UAE, and the signing and going into effect of the passport liberation treaty for diplomatic and official passport holders as very important events.
Indeed, the official visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Pakistan was anticipated by the Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to be a turning point for the promotion of trade, investment, energy, and infrastructure development through collaboration, as he was going to launch the new energy for bilateral relations.
In an open spirit, Ambassador Alzaabi reminisced about the support and cooperation that he got throughout his nine years of office in Pakistan. “I’m really fortunate to have had the privilege of being friends with the Government and people of Pakistan,” he said.
The Ambassador and Open Collaboration
Starting his career in September 2017, Ambassador Alzaabi was very instrumental in energy, culture, and diplomatic ties between the two countries and therefore the entire time the UAE conformed as a reliable partner in Pakistan’s economic reforms, humanitarian aid, and strategic collaborations.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also pointed out the times when the UAE supported Pakistan and went to great lengths, which even led to tough decisions like power projects and freeing emergency relief assistance. He pledged adherence to Pakistan’s commitment of taking this historic alliance to a higher level under the visionary leadership of both countries.
In his career, Ambassador referred to his foreign trips to NY, Paris, and Abu Dhabi quite casually and said that he was at no other time more firmly committed to the mutual understanding between Pakistan and the UAE than at that time. “Even when I am not around anymore, I will work towards deepening our relations,” he answered.
The other day, President Asif Ali Zardari also shut down Ambassador Alzaabi at Aiwan-e-Sadr to wish him farewell and extend good wishes for his future ventures, which happened last week.
The last-call meeting finished with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sending his warm regards to Ambassador Alzaabi for his future and also pledging Pakistan’s readiness to not only maintain the strategic partnership but also to extend it further. “Our peoples are bound by relationships that have been in place for a long time and are based on trust, respect, and common aspirations. This partnership will be nurtured by us for the benefit of the region’s peace and the prosperity of its peoples,” Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, declared.
Moreover, at the time when the UAE is getting ready for a new ambassador, both parties are eagerly anticipating the presence of the new ambassador in the trade, investment, climate action, renewable energy, and cultural exchange sectors. It is expected that the smooth running of the new diplomatic agreements will not only facilitate the flow of diplomatic engagements but will also open up more extensive opportunities for businesses and citizens of both countries.
Furthermore, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stated that the UAE was still a key part of his country’s plans for the expansion of the economy and the region’s connectivity, whereas Ambassador Alzaabi assured that the UAE would continue to be a supportive partner to Pakistan in the coming years.
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