ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari will undertake an official four-day visit to the UAE today, Monday, to review bilateral ties between the two nations, particularly in the spheres of trade, economic partnership and security, Pakistan’s foreign office said. 

Zardari will lead a high-level delegation to the UAE from Jan. 26-29, the foreign office said, during which he will also hold discussions with UAE officials on regional and international issues of mutual interest. 

“During the visit, the president will hold high-level meetings with the UAE’s leadership to review the full spectrum of bilateral ties, especially in the domains of trade and economic partnership, defense and security, and people-to-people ties,” the statement said. 

Zardari’s visit takes place after UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Pakistan on his first official visit to the country late last month. 

Pakistan and the UAE share close economic relations, with Abu Dhabi having provided critical support to Islamabad during its periods of financial stress. This support included deposits at Pakistan’s central bank that helped Islamabad shore up foreign exchange reserves amid a severe balance-of-payments crunch.

The Gulf nation is also Islamabad’s third-largest trading partner after China and the US. Policymakers in Pakistan consider the UAE an optimal export destination due to its geographical proximity, which minimizes transportation and freight costs while facilitating commercial transactions.

Both nations have moved closer in recent months, signing agreements worth billions of dollars as Pakistan eyes greater trade and economic ties with Gulf states.

In January 2024, Pakistan and the UAE signed multiple agreements worth more than $3 billion for cooperation in railways, economic zones and infrastructure sectors.

The UAE is also a major source of foreign investment in Pakistan, which has been valued at over $10 billion in the last 20 years, according to the UAE’s foreign ministry.