Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, will make an official visit to the Republic of Austria on Thursday. During the visit, he will discuss friendship and cooperation relations between the two countries, as well as several regional issues. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed will also meet with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz to discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest.
This visit is part of the strong bilateral relations that have linked the two countries across various fields for nearly half a century. The Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported that five key topics will contribute to enhancing the partnership between the two nations, including peaceful coexistence, economic cooperation, parliamentary relations, and the growing tourism movement between the two countries. It is expected that the organization of "Expo 2020 Dubai" will be a turning point for relations between the two countries and serve as a gateway to enhance their presence in the region overall.
It is noteworthy that the relations between the UAE and the Republic of Austria date back to the era of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Chancellor Bruno Kreisky, with their first meeting taking place in 1973, and bilateral relations being formally established on March 10, 1974.
Regarding this visit, the Austrian Chancellor stated that the visit of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi is an important milestone in strengthening and solidifying cooperation relations between the two friendly countries. He added that elevating the bilateral relations between Austria and the UAE to a strategic partnership is logical and beneficial for both nations, noting that the UAE is Austria's most important economic partner in the Arab region.
Chancellor Kurz said, "We work closely together at the level of foreign policy to promote stability and economic development in the Arab region," adding that "the development journey in the UAE, encompassing all aspects and sectors, is impressive and commendable."
He pointed out that Austrian direct investments in the UAE exceed 7 billion euros, clarifying that there are significant cooperation opportunities between the two countries in renewable energy, hydrogen technology, modern innovations, and future technologies. He further stated, "Participation in Expo 2020 Dubai is an extremely important opportunity to present Austria as a center for innovation, green technology, and the digital economy."
Regarding the Abraham Accords, the Austrian Chancellor said, "We view the peace agreements between Israel and some Arab countries very positively."
