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This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
The President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, undertook an official visit to Türkiye on 16 July 2025 at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The visit took place in Ankara, where discussions held at the Presidency Complex covered bilateral relations and regional developments. On the same day, seven separate cooperation agreements were signed between Türkiye and the UAE. Additionally, the first meeting of the Türkiye-UAE High-Level Strategic Council, established in 2023, was held during this visit.
President Erdoğan welcomes UAE President Al Nahyan at an official ceremony, 16 July 2025 - (Anadolu Agency)
The visit of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Türkiye on 16 July 2025 was conducted at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The visit coincided with the first meeting of the Türkiye-UAE High-Level Strategic Council, established in 2023.
The most recent meeting between the two leaders occurred during Al Nahyan’s visit to Türkiye in 2022. The Strategic Council, established following this engagement, aims to elevate bilateral cooperation to an institutional level. This first meeting in Ankara marked the official commencement of the Council’s activities.
During the visit, cooperation was discussed in areas including economy, defense, energy, technology, transportation, and food security. Current regional developments, particularly in Gaza and Syria, were also assessed.
President Erdoğan welcomes UAE President Al Nahyan at an official ceremony, 16 July 2025 - (Anadolu Agency)
On 16 July 2025, upon arriving in Ankara, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was received at the Presidency Complex in an official ceremony hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. During the ceremony, the two national anthems were performed, a 21-gun salute was fired, and the guests were escorted to the protocol entrance by mounted cavalry. The ceremony grounds featured flags and military personnel representing the 16 states of Türkiye.
Sheikh Al Nahyan greeted the Honor Guard with the phrase “Hello soldier” and, alongside President Erdoğan, addressed the press before the flags of both nations. Following the mutual presentation of delegations, the leaders proceeded to a private meeting.
The UAE presidential delegation included Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior and Deputy Prime Minister; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Office for Special Affairs; Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Advisor to the UAE President; General Secretary of the National Security Council Ali bin Hammad Al Shamsi; Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber; Minister of Investment Mohammed Hassan Alsuwaidi; Minister of State for Defense Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Mazrouei; Minister of State Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan; Minister of State Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar; Faisal Abdulaziz Al Bannai, Strategic Advisor to the UAE President; Dr. Ahmed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, CEO of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office; Sultan Al Mansoori, Special Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Türkiye’s Ambassador to the UAE Saeed Thani Al Dhaheri; Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, Director General of the National Center of Meteorology; and Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of the Board of Eagle Hills.
The Turkish delegation included Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar; Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek; Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya; Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler; Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır; Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu; Head of the National Intelligence Organization İbrahim Kalın; Head of Communications Burhanettin Duran; Head of Defense Industries Haluk Görgün; Chief of Staff of the Presidency Hakkı Susmaz; Chief Advisor on Foreign Policy and Security Akif Çağatay Kılıç; Head of the Investment Office Ahmet Burak Dağlıoğlu; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nuh Yılmaz; Deputy Minister of Trade Mahmut Gürcan; Türkiye’s Ambassador to the UAE Lütfullah Göktaş; and Governor of Ankara Vasip Şahin.
Bilateral talks were held at the Presidency Complex between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The discussions reviewed existing cooperation in key areas including economic, commercial, defense, energy, technology, industry, food security, and transportation, and assessed potential new initiatives in these fields. Emerging areas of cooperation such as climate change, digital infrastructure, and artificial intelligence were also addressed.
Regional and international developments were also discussed. The current situation in the Middle East, particularly developments in the Gaza Strip and Syria, were examined. Both sides affirmed their shared commitment to continuing mutual consultations and supporting regional stability. Following the talks, President Erdoğan stated on social media that the meeting had been productive and that cooperation based on strategic partnership would be further deepened.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan meet at the Presidency Complex, 16 July 2025 - (Anadolu Agency)
During the visit, the first meeting of the Türkiye-UAE High-Level Strategic Council was held in Ankara under the co-chairmanship of President Erdoğan and Sheikh Al Nahyan. This marked the first high-level platform to address bilateral relations at an institutional level. The meeting identified mutual priorities to advance strategic cooperation, assessed the progress of existing projects, and set targets for new areas of collaboration.
The meeting also discussed joint projects and sectoral initiatives under the framework of a comprehensive economic partnership aimed at contributing to the development goals of both countries. Both sides emphasized that the Council would continue to function regularly as a diplomatic dialogue and consultation mechanism.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan co-chair the first meeting of the High-Level Strategic Council at the Presidency Complex, 16 July 2025 - (Anadolu Agency)
In the presence of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, seven separate cooperation agreements were signed between the two countries. The agreements cover areas including investment, industry, defense, food, tourism, diplomacy, and scientific research.
The signed agreements are as follows:
Mou on Investment Cooperation in Tourism and Hospitality
Signed by Ahmet Burak Dağlıoğlu, Head of the Presidency Investment and Finance Office of the Republic of Türkiye, and Mohammed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment of the UAE.
Mou on Investment Cooperation in the Pharmaceutical Sector
Also signed by the same officials, this document aims to encourage private sector collaboration between the two countries in pharmaceutical production and healthcare investments.
Mou on Investment Cooperation in Industry and Manufacturing
Covers cooperation in production and industrial investments between Türkiye and the UAE.
Mou on Investment Cooperation in Agriculture and Food
Focuses on establishing joint initiatives in agricultural technologies, food security, and increasing production capacity.
Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Protection of Classified Information
Signed by Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler and Minister of State for Defense Mohammed Mubarak Al Mazrouei of the UAE. It regulates information security protocols in the defense sector.
Mou on Cooperation in Polar Research
Signed by Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber of the UAE. It aims to facilitate scientific research and data sharing in polar geography.
Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing a Joint Consular Committee
Signed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nuh Yılmaz of Türkiye and Minister of State Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar of the UAE. It seeks to institutionalize consular services and diplomatic coordination.
In their joint statements following the talks, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan assessed the current state of bilateral relations and outlined future objectives. President Erdoğan noted that the strategic partnership established between Türkiye and the UAE in 2023 has developed across numerous areas, extending from trade and infrastructure to defense industry and energy.
Erdoğan highlighted that Türkiye’s trade volume with the UAE has grown rapidly in recent years and expressed the expectation that bilateral trade, which recently targeted 10 billion dollars, would reach 20 billion dollars by 2025, with a medium-term goal of 40 billion dollars.
Regional issues were also addressed in the joint statements. Erdoğan and Al Nahyan affirmed their shared determination to engage in joint diplomatic initiatives to resolve regional crises, particularly in Gaza. The visit also emphasized the goal of enhancing cooperation in artificial intelligence, climate change, and digital infrastructure.
Sheikh Al Nahyan stated that relations between Türkiye and the UAE are based on mutual respect and a shared vision for development, and affirmed both countries’ commitment to deepening diplomatic and economic cooperation to contribute to regional peace, security, and stability. He noted that the High-Level Strategic Council provides a regular platform for dialogue and consultation toward these objectives.
President Erdoğan and UAE President Al Nahyan together on the balcony of the Presidency Complex, 16 July 2025 - (Anadolu Agency)
The visit of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Türkiye concluded in the evening of the same day. A formal dinner was hosted by President Erdoğan in honor of the guest at the Presidency Complex, held off-limits to the press.
Following the conclusion of the visit, the UAE delegation departed from Türkiye. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was accompanied throughout the visit by a large delegation of ministers, chief advisors, and technical officials.
The President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, visited Türkiye on 16 July 2025 at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The talks held in Ankara addressed economics defense energy technology and regional developments. On the same day the first meeting of the High-Level Strategic Council took place and seven agreements were signed between the two countries. The agreements covered cooperation in tourism industry pharmaceuticals defense food polar research and consular affairs.
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