President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday met the vice president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with the two discussing ways to further strengthen bilateral relations, with a focus on expanding economic, trade and investment cooperation.

According to the President’s Secretariat, Zardari met Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also the ruler of Dubai, at Zabeel Palace.

“The two leaders discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral relations, with a focus on expanding economic, trade and investment cooperation between Pakistan and the UAE,” the handout said.

Ït went on to say that President Zardari congratulated the sheikh on his two decades as Dubai’s ruler and “commended Dubai’s remarkable transformation into a global centre for tourism, finance and emerging technologies”.

It further stated that both sides exchanged views on “benefiting from Dubai’s development experience, particularly in ports, logistics, infrastructure, information technology and digital financial services”.

During the meeting, the president also highlighted Pakistan’s ongoing economic reforms, including investment facilitation and privatisation, and explored opportunities for enhanced cooperation with the UAE in infrastructure development, logistics, food security and technology-driven sectors, the handout said.

“President Zardari extended an invitation to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to visit Pakistan,” it added.

It further said that both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen the brotherly relations between Pakistan and the UAE and “expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of bilateral ties”.

During the meeting, the leaders underscored the importance of high-level exchanges, recalled the recent visit of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Pakistan, and acknowledged the UAE’s continued support for Pakistan’s economic development, it said.

“They also highlighted the valuable contribution of the Pakistani community in the UAE in strengthening people-to-people links.”

First Lady Bibi Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE were also present on the occasion, according to the statement.

Logistics company DP World says Pakistan ‘natural hub’ for trade

Meanwhile, President Zardari also appreciated Dubai-based logistics company DP World’s “strong and sustained partnership” with Pakistan and its contribution towards logistics, port operations and infrastructure, in a meeting with its chairman and chief executive officer (CEO), according to a separate handout.

During a meeting with DP World Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, the president reviewed the “evolving Pakistan–DP World engagement, noting that the recent inter-governmental agreements reflect strong commitment on both sides”.

“The president said these initiatives align with Pakistan’s objective of positioning itself as a regional trade and transit hub through enhanced connectivity and modern logistics infrastructure,” it said.

It further added that bin Sulayem highlighted Pakistan’s strategic geographic location at a time of global uncertainty and stressed that the country occupied a critical position as sea routes faced growing pressures.

According to the statement, DP World’s CEO noted that Pakistan’s direct connectivity with China and Central Asia, combined with its access to the Arabian Sea and its surface connectivity through road and rail networks, placed it at the centre of regional and inter-regional trade flows.

“He said Pakistan serves as a natural hub linking key parts of the world by sea and land, and reaffirmed that the UAE would continue to work closely with Pakistan, drawing on decades of a trusted and enduring relationship,” it added.

President Zardari reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing institutional facilitation and fast-track approvals to partner enterprises, and underscored the importance of deepening long-term cooperation in rail freight modernisation, inland logistics and integrated freight corridors, the handout said.

President Zardari, who is currently on a four-day official visit to the UAE, has held several meetings with the UAE leadership, including President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.