On the occasion of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) 53rd Union Day, which is observed on December 2 every year, the Kingdom of Bahrain offered the UAE its sincerest greetings. The historic merger of the seven emirates into a sovereign federation with Abu Dhabi as its capital is celebrated on this significant day.
The common history and respect between Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, fostered by their leaders’ vision, form the foundation of their long-lasting friendship. These relationships have developed into a form of strategic collaboration focused on sustainable progress and prosperity, guided by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates.
Developing Partnerships Through Leadership
The joint efforts of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, have further enhanced the two countries’ relationship. Together, they have supported programs that address common goals and difficulties while fostering integration across important industries.
In addition to helping the people of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, this leadership-driven collaboration has aided in the stability and advancement of the larger region.
A Legacy of Cooperation: The Bahrain-UAE Joint Higher Committee
The Bahrain-UAE Joint Higher Committee has always been the nerve centre of this flourishing partnership, bringing both sides closer for the last two decades. The committee shall cover very sensitive areas such as politics, economics, security, technology, and trade. The 12th meeting of the committee was held in Bahrain and headed by the Foreign Ministers of both nations; it managed to come up with big agreements in order to increase bilateral cooperation.
Among them are path-breaking agreements in space science: at the Bahrain International Airshow, a partnership agreement was signed between the National Space Science Agency – Kingdom of Bahrain and the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre of the United Arab Emirates on the use of space technology in environmental sustainability and in creating a Bahraini payload to study the moon. These are added to a memorandum of understanding inked in 2019 and are a demonstration of shared interest in further scientific collaboration.
Bahrain and the UAE are two strategic partners with a consistent economic cooperation based on sound political cooperation and visions. In the recent MOUs there has been focus in industrial integration on supply chain robustness and food security, all relevant to the region. Furthermore, other earlier signed BITs for investment protection and double-taxation avoidance have provided a relentless enhancement of the bilateral economic cooperation that accords with the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030.
Wind energy, four revolutionary industry, vocational training and capacity building in higher learning institutions also remain as exciting fields of cooperation, thus, prove that both nations are strategic looking at the future development.
A Model for Regional Unity
The diplomatic and strategic cooperation existing between the Bahrain and the UAE has been captured as follow. Bahrain has time and again endorsed UAE’s fight for tolerance and peacefulness — something that corresponds well with Bahrain’s stance of dialogue and diplomacy as ways towards advancement of the nation as well as the Middle East.
Being together with the UAE celebrating this Union Day, the two countries once again express intent and commitment to supporting such relations that would lead to stability and prosperity of the people of both Bahrain and the region in general. It is to the credit of the achievements made in the past, but also a powerful demonstration of the infinite possibilities of the partnership.
