Grand celebration to mark 50 years of UAE-Egypt ties

The UAE and Egypt will be organising a major celebration in Cairo to mark the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations between the two countries.

The three-day event will be held from October 26-28, under the slogan "Egypt and the UAE… One Heart".  

It will be attended by around 1,800 Emirati and Egyptian personalities, including ministers, politicians, senior officials, businessmen, intellectuals, creators, media professionals and public figures.

Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs, said, "The UAE-Egypt historical relations represent a distinguished model for the bilateral relations between Arab countries based on integration and common interests. These strong ties are not limited to the diplomatic and leadership level only, but also includes the peoples of the two countries."

"The Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed, laid the strong bonds of brotherhood and friendship with Egypt. Today, thanks to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the bilateral relations between the brotherly countries has become stronger and more prosperous in various sectors," he added.

Al Gergawi affirmed that organising this event under the slogan of "Egypt and the UAE… One Heart" translates five decades of respect and cooperation between the two nations, reflecting the bonds of brotherhood and comprehensive partnership.

Dr. Hala H. Elsaid, Minister of Planning and Economic Development of Egypt, said, "The directives of the Egyptian political leadership aims to enhance the cooperation with the UAE in all aspects, especially in the economic field. We count on the promising opportunities of cooperation between the two countries, to achieve a prosperous future for our people and build a great model of brotherly relations between Arab countries."

She also affirmed Egypt's keenness to enhance its strategic partnership with the UAE, pointing to cooperation in various fields, including government development and establishment of integrated service centres, as well as the government communication strategy and cooperation in the Egypt Government Excellence Award over the past years.

Economic Forum

The first day of the event includes the Economic Forum, which will be held in the presence of a number of ministers as well as senior officials, businessmen and economists .

It will focus on the horizons of the economic and investment cooperation between the UAE and Egypt, in addition to reviewing the most prominent projects and investment opportunities in the strategic sectors that the countries focus on.

The forum will review success stories of Egyptian and Emirati companies in different fields.

It will also feature a special concert titled "Umm Kulthum in Abu Dhabi".

Cultural and Media Forum

The second day of the event’s agenda includes the Cultural and Media Forum, which will be held in the presence of a group of intellectuals, media professionals and prominent creative personalities.

The Forum will highlight the most important milestones in the UAE-Egypt relationship in the field of media, culture, arts, and the common history.

It will also feature a series of sessions on sports, media and cultural topics, in addition to dialogues and discussions with a number of Emirati and Egyptian diplomats, and a group of media professionals from the government and private sectors in the two countries.

UAE-Egypt economic cooperation

The volume of non-oil foreign trade between Egypt and the UAE from January to May 2022 amounted to more than AED 11.8 billion, with a growth rate of 11 per cent compared to the same period last year.

During 2021, the volume of non-oil foreign trade reached nearly AED 27.7 billion, with a growth rate of 7.4 per cent compared to 2020.

Moreover, the value of Emirati investments in Egypt between 2003 and 2019, is estimated at about $30 billion (AED 110 billion).

The UAE is Egypt's second-largest trading partner in the Arab world, while Egypt is the fifth-largest Arab trading partner of the UAE in intra-non-oil trade and holds 7 per cent of its total non-oil trade with Arab countries.

The UAE is the largest Arab investor in Egypt and the third globally, with a cumulative investment balance of more than $28 billion (AED 102 billion), with over 1,300 Emirati companies operating in various fields and projects in Egypt.

Meanwhile, Egyptian companies have invested more than AED 4 billion in the UAE (about $1.1 billion), across real estate, financial, construction, wholesale and retail trade sectors.