UAE joins Saudi Arabia in its 91st National Day celebrations
The United Arab Emirates is sharing with Saudi Arabia the celebrations of its 91st National Day, which takes place on Thursday, September 23, 2021.
The official and popular participation of the United Arab Emirates in the Kingdom’s celebrations reflects the strength of the brotherly relations between the two brotherly countries and peoples, which are embodied in the slogan of this year’s celebration “Together – for ever, Saudi Arabia – UAE”.
The United Arab Emirates believes that the strong relations it enjoys with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia represent the historical depth and safety valve of the two countries and the Arabs as a model of stability, security, growth and prosperity in the region.
The historic relations between the UAE and the Kingdom were solemnly strengthened thanks to the efforts of the late Sheikh Zayed ben Sultan Al Nahyane and King Fayçal ben Abdelaziz Al Saoud, who were keen on continuous coordination and cooperation between the two countries.
Bilateral relations between the UAE and Saudi Arabia under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salmane ben Abdelaziz Al Saoud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have shifted from the concept of bilateral cooperation between neighboring countries to full strategic partnership.
Over the past few years, the two countries have made great achievements in terms of unifying energies and promoting bilateral integration in all fields in accordance with a clear vision that was strongly expressed by the determinants of the “Strategy of Resolve”, the outputs of the Saudi-UAE Coordination Council, and embodied in the alliance of the two countries in “Storm of Resolve” in defense of legitimacy in Yemen.
Special bilateral relation
The distinguished bilateral relations between the two countries have been an essential cornerstone of efforts to strengthen the security and stability of the region and the world. Their history is full of initiatives to settle Arab differences or to support Arab States, and they have shouldered the greatest burden in confronting all forms of regional interference in Arab affairs and attempts to destabilize the foundations of security and stability in the region, in addition to their prominent role in efforts to combat terrorism and extremism, which are appreciated by the international community as a whole.
Bilateral relations witnessed a qualitative leap, represented by the keenness of the leadership of both brotherly countries to establish these relations through the establishment of a joint high committee in May 2014 under the chairmanship of the foreign ministers of the two countries.
This committee worked to implement the strategic vision of the leadership of the two countries to reach broader, more secure and stable horizons to face the challenges in the region, within the framework of a strong and cohesive entity that will benefit the two brotherly peoples and support the process of joint Gulf action.
In 2016, the two countries signed an agreement to establish a coordinating council to consult and coordinate matters of mutual interest in all fields. The agreement stipulates that the council meet periodically, alternating between the two countries.
A Common Vision for Integration
In June 2018, the UAE and Saudi Arabia elevated bilateral relations to unprecedented levels, including a shared vision for economic, developmental, and military integration between the two countries through 44 joint strategic projects as part of the “Strategy of Resolve,” worked out by 350 officials from both countries from 139 government, sovereign, and military entities within 12 months.
Economic and trade relations between the UAE and the Kingdom were an exceptional and rich model of cooperation and solidarity. Saudi Arabia is the first Arab and the third largest trading partner in the UAE worldwide, accounting for about 7% of the UAE’s non-oil trade with the world. The two countries have the largest Arab economies and are among the top 10 exporting countries globally, with total exports of goods and services approaching $750 billion in 2018.
Tourism in the two countries provides the two countries trade and economic sectors with the most promising investment opportunities and attracts more joint ventures, in order to diversify the economic and commercial base of the two countries, especially after the United Arab Emirates allocated huge sums of money for the next 10 years to develop this sector, following the steady successes it achieved in attracting international tourism companies, which have the basic elements that ensure the success of the tourism industry there.
Cultural relations between the two countries reflect the level of geographical and social interdependence between their peoples. These relations were strengthened through various channels, most notably in the education sector, which at the beginning saw students travel to Saudi Arabia to attend schools in Mecca, Al-Ahsa, and Riyadh.
The cultural relations between the two countries have been represented at several levels, whether through the establishment of several agreements and joint programs, or at the level of cultural interaction between the umbrella institutions working on this issue and the creative and educated people of the two countries, within a vision based on the fact that the relationship between the two brotherly countries is strengthened by a relationship between two peoples with a long history and cultural, social, geographical and economic heritage.
