Executive Committee of Saudi-Emirati Coordination Council holds its third meeting

The Executive Committee of the Saudi-Emirati Coordination Council today convened via video conferencing to review the results achieved over the past five years since the establishment of the joint council, including the two 'Retreat of Resolve' meetings, which resulted in around 175 joint initiatives across 24 areas of cooperation.

The Committee's third meeting was chaired by Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, while the Saudi side was chaired by Faisal bin Fadel Al Ibrahim, Minister of Economy and Planning.

During the meeting, Sheikh Shakhbout delivered a speech in which he welcomed the Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning, and conveyed the greetings of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, to the attendees, and his wishes of success to the committee.

The minister said, "I am delighted to have the UAE's wise leadership bestow me the honour of chairing the UAE side of the Executive Committee of the Saudi-Emirati Coordination Council."

He expressed his thanks and appreciation to Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, for successfully heading the Executive Committee during the past period.

Sheikh Shakhbout said that he is looking forward to continue enhancing UAE-Saudi joint work through the Saudi-Emirati Coordination Council, with the support and leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, and President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

He then extended his sincere thanks and appreciation to His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Saudi Arabia, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, for their pivotal role in leading the Saudi-Emirati Coordination Council and their limitless support of it.

The minister commended the UAE-Saudi relations, describing them as "deep-rooted and historical", adding that they have a solid foundation and build on the strong ties between the two peoples.

"The recent visit of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to the UAE, embodies the strong bilateral relations and historical ties that our countries share, and supports their tireless efforts to enhance their strategic cooperation and economic integration, both as strategic allies and partners and political, economic and military powers," he added.

Sheikh Shakhbout continued, "The Saudi-Emirati Coordination Council has established strategic partnerships between our countries in several vital fields and sectors, especially in energy, investment, trade, food security, supply chain security and youth. Our joint committees and teams have developed a number of ambitious and distinctive initiatives, which made direct contributions to and a huge impact with regard to intensifying joint work and boosting the cooperation between our government and private entities."

He reaffirmed the UAE's support for the Kingdom's bid to host Expo 2030.

For his part, the Saudi Minister congratulated the UAE on its Golden Jubilee and the successful hosting of Expo 2020 Dubai, wishing it further progress and prosperity.

He also thanked Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei for chairing the Executive Committee during the past period and his endless efforts, which highlight their strong bilateral relations.

Al Ibrahim lauded their leaderships' keenness to consolidate their fraternal ties, strategic cooperation and economic integration, noting that the Council is an ideal platform to realise the visions of the two leaderships in terms of enhancing cooperation and accelerating integration to serve the interests of the two nations.

He added, "We, as Saudis, are proud of the history we share with the UAE, and together, under the directives of our wise leaderships, we are steadfast in our journey to achieve our joint vision."

The Saudi Minister reviewed the results achieved over the past five years since the establishment of the joint council, including the two 'Retreat of Resolve' meetings, which resulted in around 175 joint initiatives across 24 areas of cooperation.

"The UAE is one of the Kingdom's key trading partners. And in recognition of the significant role played by the private sector in stimulating economic growth, an advisory committee has been established to identify paths for accelerating trade and investment cooperation and coming up with legislation conducive to streamlining trade exchanges between the two sides," he said.

"Today we reaffirm that we are going to forge ahead with our joint drive with more determination and commitment by launching a set of joint strategic partnerships to strengthen the Saudi-Emirati integration across various fields.

"Through our coordination we seek to seize the existing opportunities and explore new prospects in a way that underpins integrated economic growth and helps find out innovative solutions to achieve the aspired sustainable development for the higher good of the peoples of the two fraternal nations."

He stressed on the importance of forging a common vision focused on specific strategic fields over the coming years to secure more knowledge-driven economic growth in the two nations.

For their part, Khaled Abdullah Belhoul, Under-Secretary of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Secretary General of the Executive Committee from the Emirati side, and Bandar Al Khamis, the Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Economy and Planning, and Secretary General of the Executive Committee from the Saudi side, along with the heads of the joint committees, reviewed the key strategic initiatives along with the plans and strategic objectives of the next period.

The meeting also addressed the Executive Committee's plan for the coming three years and the prospects of strengthening cooperation in keeping with the latest developments on the global scene.

The plan identifies six strategic objectives to be achieved through innovative initiatives over the next three years.

The two sides also reviewed the workings of the advisory committee of the private sector and the agenda of Saudi-Emirati Coordination Council's 3rd meeting, slated for early next year.

Attending the meeting from the Emirati side were Mohamed Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, along with the heads of the joint committees and members of the General Secretariat of the Executive Committee.

The Saudi side was represented by Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi, Minister of Commerce and Acting Minister of Media; Dr Hamad Al Sheikh, Minister of Education; Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism; Majid Al-Hogail, Minister of the Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing; and Bandar Alkhorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources; along with the heads of the joint committees and the team of the General Secretariat of the Executive Committee.