UAE to host next major WTO meeting

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said the country is honoured at being selected to host the next World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial meeting in Abu Dhabi.

It will be held in February, 2024, the global trade watchdog confirmed in a Twitter announcement.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, Sheikh Mohamed said the UAE looked "forward to facilitating constructive dialogue between WTO nations and strengthening international cooperation for a sustainable economic future".

The UAE is honoured to have been selected as the host country for the World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in 2024. We look forward to facilitating constructive dialogue between WTO nations and strengthening international cooperation for a sustainable economic future.

— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) December 19, 2022

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, also took to Twitter to "welcome the 164 member countries to hold global trade development talks in the UAE".

Sheikh Mohammed said the country "supported all international moves that guarantee the free flow of goods and services between different countries aimed at protecting the future of global trade".

164 دولة في منظمة التجارة العالمية ستعقد محادثات تطوير التجارة العالمية في بداية العام 2024 في دولة الإمارات..نرحب بالدول المشاركة .. ونرحب بمنظمة التجارة العالمية.. وندعم كل التحركات الدولية التي تضمن التدفق الحر للسلع والخدمات بين مختلف دول العالم وتحمي مستقبل التجارة العالمية

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) December 19, 2022

The UAE and Cameroon were both vying to host the event.

Trade ministers from the body's 164 members meet every few years at ministerial conferences and seek to agree new global commerce rules.