Biden to welcome UAE President Sheikh Mohamed to White House in historic visit

The White House said it will be the first visit by a president of the UAE to Washington

President Sheikh Mohamed. UAE Presidential Court / AFP

President Joe Biden will welcome UAE President Sheikh Mohamed to Washington next week in a “historic” first visit, the White House announced on Wednesday.

National Security spokesman John Kirby said the meeting will be the first by a president of the UAE to the White House, noting that Vice President Kamala Harris would also take part.

“Both the President and the Vice President have spoken with or met with President [Sheikh] Mohamed at multiple points throughout the administration, and we look forward to have face-to-face discussions here,” Mr Kirby said.

The meeting will discuss bilateral and legal issues, including advanced technology, clean energy, space technology, supply chain and critical infrastructure investments, he added.

The crisis in Sudan and the nearly year-old war in Gaza, especially the UAE's “essential role” in addressing the humanitarian situation there would also be on the agenda, Mr Kirby said.

“During the visit, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed will meet with a number of US officials to discuss ways to develop UAE-US relations at all levels, and will exchange views with the US President on various regional and international issues of mutual interest,” UAE state news agency Wam said.

The visit comes before the annual UN General Assembly in New York, where Mr Biden will address world leaders on Tuesday.

Yousef Al Otaiba, Minister of State and UAE ambassador to the US, said the visit marked "an important milestone" in the relationship between the two countries.

"Together, the UAE and US are a critical force for positive change and an engine for regional stability, prosperity and integration," Mr Al Otaiba said on X.