Introduction
On June 12, 2025, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif began a pivotal one-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates, marking another milestone in the deep-rooted relations between Islamabad and Abu Dhabi. The short but significant visit underscores Pakistan’s strategic intent to strengthen bilateral, regional, and global cooperation with a key Gulf partner.

Accompanied by High-Level Delegation
The Prime Minister is leading a high-profile delegation that includes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the PM Tariq Fatemi, and other senior federal officials. This grouping signals the government’s commitment to advancing structured discussions and fast-tracking agreements across diverse sectors.

Fraternal Ties and Diplomatic Intent
Pakistan’s Foreign Office emphasized that this visit reflects “deep‑rooted fraternal ties” rooted in mutual trust, shared values, and longstanding cooperation. The visit aims not merely to sustain but to elevate the strategic partnership, focusing on economic, political, and cultural synergy. Such high-level diplomatic courtesies affirm the two countries’ continued intent to bolster mutual understanding and strategic alignment.

Key Bilateral Agendas

  1. Economic Collaboration and Investment
    • The UAE remains Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner and a major investor source. Over 1 million Pakistanis reside in the UAE, consistently sending remittances that support Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves.
    • The visit is expected to build on the more than $3 billion in cooperation agreements signed during Shehbaz’s February 2024 trip, with additional MOUs in economic, energy, labour, and agricultural domains.
    • Talks will likely include mechanisms to stabilise Pakistan’s economic landscape, including possible follow-ups on a $2 billion debt rollover that the UAE recently approved.
  2. Regional and Global Issues
    • Besides bilateral topics, discussions will cover regional security, stability in South Asia, Middle East peace, and ongoing climate and development partnerships.
    • Pakistan praised the UAE’s constructive mediation role during recent tensions with India. During a recent phone call, PM Shehbaz and President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed discussed the regional security situation.

Historical Diplomatic Context

  • This marks the second official visit of PM Shehbaz to the UAE this year. His first trip was in February 2025 to attend the World Governments Summit in Dubai, where he engaged with top global and UAE officials.
  • Earlier this year, President Sheikh Mohamed visited Pakistan, landing in Rahim Yar Khan, rekindling discussions on bilateral cooperation in sectors such as mining, agriculture, and humanitarian aid.

Strategic, Economic, and Cultural Dimensions

  • Economically, the focus is on expanding trade, facilitating energy and infrastructure investment, and harnessing the Pakistani workforce in the UAE.
  • Strategically, Pakistan seeks continued diplomatic support, particularly in light of economic challenges and regional instability.
  • Culturally, fostering stronger people-to-people ties—through diaspora engagement, educational exchanges, and joint initiatives—remains central to the long-term vision of both nations.

Expected Deliverables and MoUs
Although the itinerary remains mostly confidential, anticipated outcomes include:

  • Renewal or signing of MOUs on trade, labour mobility, energy cooperation, and tech partnerships.
  • Framework agreements aimed at encouraging UAE investments in special economic zones and public-private partnerships within Pakistan.
  • Renewed commitments on remittance facilitation, potentially embracing blockchain-enabled fast, low-cost financial transactions.

Follow-up on Previous Agreements and Mutual Aid
Having earlier secured a UAE deposit that helped Pakistan avert a balance-of-payments crisis and enabled IMF agreement compliance, the PM is expected to reaffirm Pakistan’s gratitude and seek continued cooperation.
Importantly, this visit will also reaffirm ongoing UAE support in humanitarian and development initiatives within Pakistan.

Context Within Pakistan’s Diplomatic Tour
This visit is part of a broader diplomatic tour undertaken by PM Shehbaz over the past months, which included official visits to Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan. The tour has concentrated on consolidating regional ties, expressing appreciation for multilateral support during crises, and strengthening connectivity across geopolitical blocks.

In choosing to fly to the UAE for a high-profile 24-hour visit, PM Shehbaz Sharif is not only reinforcing bilateral cooperation but also signalling Pakistan’s active pivot to diversifying international partnerships.

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