UAE Ambassador bids farewell to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

Dubai: Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Alzaabi, the outgoing Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Pakistan, paid a farewell call on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister House on Monday evening.

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kiyani, SAPM Tariq Fatemi, and Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch were also present.

The Prime Minister congratulated Ambassador Alzaabi on the successful completion of his tenure in Pakistan and appreciated his efforts in strengthening bilateral relations.

He lauded the leadership of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for forging closer Pakistan-UAE ties that are reflective of the longstanding, deep-rooted, fraternal bonds between both countries.

Highlighting recent progress, the Prime Minister noted the visits of UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, along with the convening of the Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission and the operationalization of the visa abolition agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders.

He expressed hope that “the official visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Pakistan at an early date will lend further impetus to the relationship between the two sides.”

Ambassador Alzaabi expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for the farewell meeting and said he was “deeply appreciative of the support and friendship that I have received throughout my nine-year stay in Pakistan, from the Government as well as the people of the country.” He reaffirmed that he would continue to work for stronger Pakistan-UAE ties in the future.

Earlier, President Asif Ali Zardari also hosted Ambassador Al-Zaabi at Aiwan-e-Sadr last week to bid him farewell at the conclusion of his tenure, extending best wishes for his future endeavours.

Ambassador Alzaabi, who assumed office in Islamabad in September 2017, expressed appreciation for the warm hospitality extended by the Government and people of Pakistan throughout his tenure. He pledged that the UAE would remain a steadfast partner of Pakistan in the years ahead.

Hamad Obaid Alzaabi is a seasoned diplomat with nearly two decades of service to the UAE. He began his career in 2004 as an Attaché at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and went on to serve at the UAE Mission to the United Nations in New York, the UAE Embassy in Paris, and at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Abu Dhabi.