President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, concluded his official visit to Pakistan at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, departing Islamabad on Friday after a day of high-level talks and ceremonial events.
Upon his arrival, as the UAE president’s aircraft entered Pakistani airspace, Pakistan Air Force JF-17 Thunder Block III fighter jets provided an escort and presented an aerial salute, officials said.
The aircraft later landed at Nur Khan Air Base, where PM Shehbaz, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir received the visiting leader and his high-level delegation.
A 21-gun salute and a guard of honour by contingents of the armed forces were presented, while the national anthems of both countries were played. Cabinet members and senior officials were also present at the reception.
During talks, PM Shehbaz and Sheikh Mohamed reviewed the longstanding brotherly relations between Pakistan and the UAE and discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.
According to a joint statement, both sides assessed progress in ongoing areas of collaboration and explored avenues to deepen engagement across multiple sectors.
The leaders emphasised expanding cooperation in economic development, investment, energy, infrastructure, information technology, technology innovation, and people-to-people exchanges. They also agreed on the need to enhance bilateral trade, noting its strong potential for mutually beneficial growth.
Regional and international developments were also discussed, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to close coordination on matters of mutual interest.
Expressing satisfaction over the positive momentum in bilateral ties, they reiterated their resolve to work together to promote peace, stability and sustainable development.
Officials said the aerial salute by the PAF symbolised Pakistan’s goodwill and the depth of mutual respect between the two countries.
The JF-17 Thunder Block III, a 4.5-generation multirole fighter, showcased the air force’s modern operational capabilities.
Sheikh Mohamed later concluded his one-day visit and departed Pakistan.
Officials described the visit as a significant step towards further consolidating the Pakistan-UAE strategic partnership and reinforcing their deep-rooted brotherly ties.
