Kenya, UAE Bolster Bilateral Ties with High-Level Meeting and Strategic Agreements
Nairobi, The Gulf Observer: President of the Republic of Kenya, Dr. William Samoei Ruto, today received His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, at the outset of the UAE top diplomat’s official working visit to Nairobi.
During the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah conveyed warm greetings from President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court. The UAE leaders also extended their best wishes for Kenya’s continued progress and prosperity.
President Ruto, in return, conveyed his regards to the UAE leadership and expressed his appreciation for the longstanding friendship and support between the two nations, wishing the UAE sustained growth and well-being.
The high-level talks focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation across various domains, particularly in the fields of economy, trade, investment, tourism, and energy. Both sides underscored their shared commitment to enhancing developmental partnerships that serve the mutual interests of their countries and peoples.
Sheikh Abdullah praised the robust and historic ties between the UAE and Kenya, which have flourished over decades. He stated, “This visit reflects our commitment to fostering dynamic and prosperous relations with Kenya and to deepening developmental cooperation with friendly African nations for the collective benefit of our peoples.” He also commended Kenya’s development strides and thanked President Ruto for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to the Emirati delegation.
As a key outcome of the visit, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and President Ruto witnessed the signing of seven significant memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and cooperation agreements between the UAE and Kenya:
- MoU on Military Cooperation – Signed by Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of State, and Roselinda Soipan Tuya, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Defence.
- MoU on Transport Cooperation – Signed by Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan and Davis Chirchir, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Roads and Transport.
- Bilateral Framework Agreement on Economic Development – Signed by Sheikh Shakhboot and CPA John Mbadi, Cabinet Secretary, National Treasury and Economic Planning.
- Agreement on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters – Signed by Sheikh Shakhboot and Humphrey Wattanga, Commissioner General, Kenya Revenue Authority.
- MoU between the UAE Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry to establish the UAE-Kenya Joint Business Council – Signed by Saeed Mubarak Al Hajeri, Assistant Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs, and Dr. Erick Ruto, President, Kenya Chamber of Commerce.
- MoU on Energy Cooperation – Signed by Dr. Salem Ibrahim Al Naqbi, UAE Ambassador to Kenya, and Alex Kamau Wachira, Principal Secretary for Energy and Petroleum.
- MoU between Etihad Rail and Kenya Railways – Signed by Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail, and Philip J. Mainga, Managing Director, Kenya Railways.
The visit marks a significant milestone in UAE-Kenya relations and sets the stage for deeper collaboration across strategic sectors, reinforcing both countries’ shared vision for sustainable growth and regional cooperation.
