The UAE and the USA hold the third session of their joint consular committee

The United Arab Emirates and the United States of America held the third session of their joint consular committee to enhance and bolster cooperation in all joint consular fields, aiming to provide outstanding consular support and services to the citizens of the two countries.

The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Faisal Eissa Lutfi, Assistant Undersecretary for Consular Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and by His Excellency Sean Murphy, Chargé d'Affaires at the USA Embassy in the UAE.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed several joint consular matters between the two countries and plans to follow up and develop them, in addition to means of enhancing joint consular cooperation.

His Excellency Faisal Eissa Lutfi, Assistant Undersecretary for Consular Affairs at MoFAIC stressed the importance of cooperation in the consular field and its role in boosting and strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, praising the positive developments achieved during this year in terms of bilateral consular relations. He hailed efforts exerted by both sides to provide distinguished consular services and facilitate citizens' movement between the two countries.

In turn, His Excellency Sean Murphy, Chargé d'Affaires at the USA Embassy in the UAE, praised the pioneering position enjoyed by the UAE at the regional and international levels, and the vital role it plays at various levels, stressing the importance of this committee in strengthening the frameworks of consular cooperation in all fields.

His Excellency Faisal Lutfi conveyed the greetings of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and his praise of the strong bilateral relations between the two countries in the consular field and his hopes for success for the meeting, which reflects the aspirations and directions of the visionary leadership. 

He added that the bilateral relations between the UAE and the USA witnessed significant leaps which contributed to consolidating and advancing these relations on bilateral and global levels. He also stressed that the UAE and the USA have solid ties anchored in history and based on many common interests.

On his part, His Excellency Sean Murphy, Chargé d'Affaires at the USA Embassy in the UAE, praised the development of bilateral relations between the two countries over the past years, especially in the field of consular cooperation, stressing that his country aspires to develop cooperation and share expertise with the UAE in this field, to the benefit of the citizens of the two countries, and to enhance bilateral relations.

Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Interior, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, the Ministry of Justice, and the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company in the UAE, as well as representatives from the competent authorities in the USA, took part in the meeting.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 1972, , the UAE and the USA have shared distinguished and solid strategic and historic relations, based on mutual respect and understanding. Bilateral relations between the two parties witnessed significant advancement in the past years through the exchange of high-level visits between the two countries, the signing of agreements and memorandums of understanding, in addition to bilateral cooperation in all fields, most notably the fields of defense, education, and economy.