Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, concluded a visit to Egypt described as “fraternal” and rich in symbolism and strategic significance. The visit, which extended over several days, included a personal and informal meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, with the two leaders sharing breakfast on the scenic shores of New Alamein City on Egypt’s North Coast, a gesture that drew widespread attention and admiration across social media platforms.
Photos of the relaxed and friendly encounter circulated rapidly online, sparking positive commentary and reinforcing public perceptions of the deep, brotherly ties between the two nations. Many Egyptians and Emiratis alike interpreted the images of the two leaders dining together not merely as a symbol of personal camaraderie, but as a broader reflection of the enduring partnership between Cairo and Abu Dhabi.
President El-Sisi personally bid farewell to Sheikh Mohammed at Alamein International Airport, highlighting the importance Egypt places on the relationship. According to Ambassador Mohamed El-Shenawy, the official spokesperson for the Egyptian presidency, the visit aimed to “further solidify the strong bonds between the two leaderships” and to ensure “continued consultation and coordination in service of the shared interests of both peoples and in support of regional security and stability.”
During the visit, both leaders reaffirmed the depth of the historical ties between Egypt and the UAE. President El-Sisi emphasized the unique and strategic nature of the bilateral relationship, while Sheikh Mohammed expressed his heartfelt thanks for Egypt’s warm hospitality and praised the ongoing development of relations between the two countries.
He also noted the unity of purpose and shared vision that bind the two nations as they face regional challenges together.
Though informal in nature, the visit included substantial discussions on various pressing regional and bilateral issues. According to Ambassador Rakha Ahmed Hassan, former Assistant Foreign Minister of Egypt and a member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, the leaders exchanged views on key regional files, including the war in Gaza, the situations in Syria and Lebanon, and the broader geopolitical landscape.
He emphasized that despite the fraternal tone, the visit involved “real diplomatic coordination” and served as an opportunity to synchronize the policy stances of both countries.
Economic cooperation was also a major focus. The UAE remains one of Egypt’s most significant investors, and bilateral trade continues to grow. According to data from Egypt’s Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), Egyptian exports to the UAE soared to $3.8 billion in the first half of 2025, up from $1.5 billion during the same period in 2024. Emirati investments in Egypt also rose slightly to $2.2 billion in the first half of the 2024–2025 fiscal year, compared to $2.1 billion the previous year.
The two countries are also cooperating on several large-scale development projects. One of the most prominent is the Ras El Hekma Development Project, jointly launched in 2024 by President El-Sisi and Sheikh Mohammed. Located approximately 350 kilometers northwest of Cairo on the Mediterranean coast, Ras El Hekma is a vast coastal city with an area of around 170 million square meters in Egypt’s Matrouh Governorate.
The UAE-Egypt partnership on this project is backed by an estimated $150 billion investment plan over the course of its development.
This landmark project reflects not only the ambition of the UAE’s investment strategy in Egypt, but also the trust and alignment between the two governments. It is being seen as a pivotal initiative to transform the Egyptian North Coast into a global investment and tourism hub.
As Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed concluded his visit, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation across all fields, from politics and defense to trade and infrastructure against a backdrop of shared goals for peace, prosperity, and stability in the region.
The visit, widely covered by regional media and enthusiastically embraced by the public, stands as a reminder that Egypt-UAE relations are not just enduring, they are evolving, adapting to new challenges, and expanding into new domains of mutual benefit.
