• Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, right, meets with Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan, during a reception at the Presidential Palace. All photos by Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, right, meets with Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan, during a reception at the Presidential Palace. All photos by Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed meets with Mr Ghani during a reception at the Presidential Palace.
    Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed meets with Mr Ghani during a reception at the Presidential Palace.
  • Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Ghani witness the signing of an agreement on mining, energy, education and sports between the UAE and Afghanistan. Seen signing are Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, right, and Humayun Qayoumi, Minister of Finance of Afghanistan, left, at the Presidential Palace.
    Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Ghani witness the signing of an agreement on mining, energy, education and sports between the UAE and Afghanistan. Seen signing are Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, right, and Humayun Qayoumi, Minister of Finance of Afghanistan, left, at the Presidential Palace.
  • Mr Ghani signs the visitors book during a reception at the Presidential Palace.
    Mr Ghani signs the visitors book during a reception at the Presidential Palace.
  • Hamdullah Mohib, National Security Advisor of Afghanistan, right; Mr Qayoumi and other members of the Afghanistan delegation attend a meeting at the Presidential Palace.
    Hamdullah Mohib, National Security Advisor of Afghanistan, right; Mr Qayoumi and other members of the Afghanistan delegation attend a meeting at the Presidential Palace.
  • Eissa Al Dhaheri, UAE Ambassador to Afghanistan, left; and Maryam Eid Al Mheiri, chief executive of Media Zone Authority and twofour54; attend a reception at the Presidential Palace.
    Eissa Al Dhaheri, UAE Ambassador to Afghanistan, left; and Maryam Eid Al Mheiri, chief executive of Media Zone Authority and twofour54; attend a reception at the Presidential Palace.
  • From left: Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chief executive and Managing Director Mubadala, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority and Abu Dhabi Executive Council Member; Maj Gen Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Deputy National Security Adviser and Abu Dhabi Executive Council Member; and Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister for Climate Change and Environment, attend a meeting with Mr Ghani at the Presidential Palace.
    From left: Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chief executive and Managing Director Mubadala, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority and Abu Dhabi Executive Council Member; Maj Gen Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Deputy National Security Adviser and Abu Dhabi Executive Council Member; and Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister for Climate Change and Environment, attend a meeting with Mr Ghani at the Presidential Palace.
  • From right: Ali Al Shamsi, Deputy Secretary-General of the UAE Supreme National Security Council; Dr Gargash; Mohamed Al Bowardi, Minister of State for Defence Affairs; Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development; and Dr Al Zeyoudi attend a reception for Mr. Ghani at the Presidential Palace.
    From right: Ali Al Shamsi, Deputy Secretary-General of the UAE Supreme National Security Council; Dr Gargash; Mohamed Al Bowardi, Minister of State for Defence Affairs; Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development; and Dr Al Zeyoudi attend a reception for Mr. Ghani at the Presidential Palace.
  • Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed receives Mr Ghani during a reception at the Presidential Palace.
    Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed receives Mr Ghani during a reception at the Presidential Palace.
  • Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed receives Mr Ghani during a reception at the Presidential Palace.
    Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed receives Mr Ghani during a reception at the Presidential Palace.
  • Sheikh Mohamed receives Mr. Ghani during a reception at the Presidential Palace. Seen with Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, National Security Advisor, back left.
    Sheikh Mohamed receives Mr. Ghani during a reception at the Presidential Palace. Seen with Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, National Security Advisor, back left.
  • Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed receives Mr Ghani at the Presidential Palace.
    Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed receives Mr Ghani at the Presidential Palace.
  • Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed receives Mr Ghani at the Presidential Palace.
    Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed receives Mr Ghani at the Presidential Palace.
  • Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Ghani stand for the national anthem during a reception at the Presidential Palace.
    Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Ghani stand for the national anthem during a reception at the Presidential Palace.

Government

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince meets Afghan President

Pair meet at the Presidential Palace in the UAE capital

The National

March 17, 2019

  • English
  • Arabic

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, met Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan, in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

The Crown Prince welcomed Mr Ghani at the Presidential Palace, where he was given an official reception. The national anthems of the two countries were played, and a 21-gun salute was fired in his honour.

Following the ceremony, Mr Ghani was welcomed by Sheikhs, Ministers and senior officials. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed also greeted members of the Afghan delegation.

The two then held official talks where they discussed enhancing bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest, Sheikh Mohamed said in a tweet.

Six agreements, the presence of Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Ghani, were signed with the aim of promoting and developing joint co-operation between the two countries.

Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and Mohammad Qayoumi, Afghanistan's Acting Minister of Finance, signed four agreements on education, mining, energy, and sport co-operation.

Mr Qayoumi also signed an agreement on cultural co-operation with Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, and an agreement on agricultural co-operation with Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment.

Mr Ghani then paid a visit to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, at Zabeel Palace.

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Reem Al Hashimi, Minister of State for International Co-operation, also attended the meeting.

  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, receives Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at Zaabeel Palace in Dubai. All photos by Wam
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, receives Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at Zaabeel Palace in Dubai. All photos by Wam
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Reem Al Hashimi, Minister of State for International Co-operation, meets Mr Ghani on Sunday.
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Reem Al Hashimi, Minister of State for International Co-operation, meets Mr Ghani on Sunday.
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid meets Mr Ghani on Sunday.
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid meets Mr Ghani on Sunday.
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid receives Mr Ghani at Zabeel Palace.
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid receives Mr Ghani at Zabeel Palace.
  • From left: Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed; Reem Al Hashimi, and Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, chief executive and chairman of the Emirates Group; attend the reception at Zabeel palace.
    From left: Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed; Reem Al Hashimi, and Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, chief executive and chairman of the Emirates Group; attend the reception at Zabeel palace.
  • From left: Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, and Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and The Future, attend the reception at Zabeel palace.
    From left: Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, and Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and The Future, attend the reception at Zabeel palace.
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid welcomes Mr Ghani to Zabeel Palace in Dubai.
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid welcomes Mr Ghani to Zabeel Palace in Dubai.

Mr Ghani, who assumed presidency in September 2014, last visited Abu Dhabi in February 2017 where he met with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and the two discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi affirmed that the UAE would continue to support the people of Afghanistan in humanitarian and development projects.

The meeting came a month after five Emirati diplomats were killed in two bombings at the Kandahar governor's residence. The Emiratis were in the second largest city in Afghanistan on a humanitarian mission.

UAE