Abu Dhabi: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Monday chaired an extraordinary UAE Cabinet meeting held at Abu Dhabi Louvre.

The meeting coincides with the UAE’s 46th National Day celebrations.

Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, were present.

On this occasion, Shaikh Mohammad extended his congratulations to the UAE and its people, and expressed his wishes for more progress and achievements for the UAE under the leadership of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates.

Shaikh Mohammad said that the UAE is occupying the highest global ranks in a number of fields thanks to the efforts and vision of its founders, as well as the efforts exerted by its national cadres, who contributed to making the UAE a unique model for development and progress.

“The National Day is an occasion in which we celebrate the achievements of our forefathers, achievements of our citizens and progress of our governments,” said Shaikh Mohammad.

Shaikh Mohammad said that holding the Cabinet meeting at Abu Dhabi Louvre is nationally symbolic, reflecting the UAE Government’s commitment to the principles that it was founded on. He added that the Abu Dhabi Louvre is a monument that reflects the country’s development and openness to different cultures around the world.

“Today, we convene at Abu Dhabi Louvre, an Emirati icon for thought, art and culture. It reaffirms our commitment to the principles that the UAE was founded on, such as tolerance, extending bridges of communication, acceptance of others and giving,” said Shaikh Mohammad.

“From here, we convey to the world a message: That the UAE is a hub in which cultures, minds and sciences meet, and with the legacy of the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and determination of its people the UAE will strive towards the UAE Centennial,” said Shaikh Mohammad.

During the meeting, the UAE Cabinet approved the closing account for the 2016 fiscal year for Emarat and Emirates Transport.

The Cabinet approved setting up a UAE Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria, and the signing of agreements on mutual encouragement and protection of investments with Angola, Burundi and Paraguay and a mutual tax avoidance agreements with Burundi. The Cabinet also approved the signing of agreements on the mutual exemption of entry visas with El Salvador and Montenegro for holders of official, diplomatic, special and ordinary passports, as well as an agreement with Switzerland on the common exemption of short-term stay visas for holders of ordinary passports.