UAE President to commence state visit to Italy on February 24

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, will begin a state visit to Italy starting on Monday, February 24th. During the visit, Sheikh Mohamed will hold talks with His Excellency Sergio Mattarella, President of Italy, and Her Excellency Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister.

The talks will focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation between the UAE and Italy, particularly in areas such as economy, investment, renewable energy, advanced technology, artificial intelligence, and cultural exchange. These discussions will take place as part of the strategic partnership between the UAE and Italy, solidifying their commitment to mutual growth.

In mid-January of this year, the UAE President held talks with the Italian Prime Minister in Abu Dhabi, where the two sides explored ways to expand cooperation, especially in the fields of economy, investment, and sustainable development. Sheikh Mohamed emphasized the UAE's commitment to strengthening cooperation with other countries and establishing development partnerships that serve common interests.

The UAE and Italy have recently collaborated in key growth areas such as cross-border green energy, as well as financial and economic crime. As cooperation continues to deepen, an increasing number of Italian companies are seeking to expand their presence in the UAE, a significant regional and global business hub, where over 600 Italian companies are already established.

Valerio Soldani, the Italian Trade Commissioner to the UAE, stated at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference (ADIPEC) 2024 that "Italian companies are making significant contributions to the UAE by providing cutting-edge technologies that promote innovation." He added that they are strengthening cooperation with local businesses to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions across various industries.

Soldani pointed out that technology is a major component of Italian exports to the UAE. He further added that Italian companies are seeking to increase their exports to the UAE to $8 billion by the end of 2024, thereby reaching a record level in exporting "Made in Italy" industries to the UAE, demonstrating the strong demand for Italian products.

In 2023, Italian exports to the UAE grew rapidly, reaching $7 billion, an increase of 10.4% year-on-year. In the first seven months of 2024, exports increased by 22% year-on-year, mainly concentrated in the fields of technology, luxury goods, and consumer goods, signaling a continued upward trend in the trade relationship.