ATHENS, Greece / AsiaWire.IO / – Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has embarked on an official trip to Greece, arriving in Athens. He was greeted by Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis at Athens International Airport. The visit is at the invitation of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and it is anticipated that they will conduct significant discussions. The trip emphasizes broadening bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the UAE and Greece, established in 1976. Over the decades, their relationship has evolved from traditional diplomatic exchanges into a comprehensive strategic alliance. Today, it encompasses sectors such as economy, investment, energy, and technology. Emerging fields like artificial intelligence, advanced technology, clean energy, and digital infrastructure are also becoming new avenues for collaboration between the two nations.
A substantial official delegation accompanies the Crown Prince. Among its members are Major General Pilot Sheikh Ahmed bin Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, and Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court. Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO, is also part of the delegation.
Delegates cover trade, investment, culture and health sectors
Included in the UAE delegation are Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade. Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment, and Ghanem Sultan Alsuwaidi, Advisor of Security Affairs at the Crown Prince Court, are also participating. Additionally, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, and Mansour Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, are present alongside Sheikh Khaled.
The group also features Saif Saeed Ghobash, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Office of the Crown Prince. Maryam Eid AlMheiri, Chairperson of Abu Dhabi Media Office and Advisor of Strategic Relations at the Crown Prince Court, is among the attendees. The UAE’s ambassador to Greece, Dr Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri, also joins the official entourage in Athens.
Business forum aims to forge new UAE-Greece collaborations
Investopia Mediterranean – Athens is running concurrently with the official visit. The event seeks to bolster economic and investment ties between the two countries, bringing together government officials and industry leaders to identify new partnership opportunities. Focus areas include food security, logistics, supply chains, and investments that promote competitiveness and sustainable growth.
This Athens visit extends the ongoing close relations between the leaders of the UAE and Greece. In May, UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan hosted Mitsotakis for high-level discussions in Abu Dhabi. Their talks covered topics such as the economy, investment, technology, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, sustainability, infrastructure, and culture. The two leaders have also communicated multiple times via phone calls this year.