Maktoum bin Mohammed Arrives in Brussels for First-Ever GCC-European Union Summit

Photo : Dubai Government Media Office

His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance of the UAE, arrived in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, on Wednesday to participate in the inaugural Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-European Union Summit. This historic summit represents the first gathering at the level of leaders between the GCC and the European Union, marking a new chapter in strengthening the partnership between the two regions.

Upon his arrival in Brussels, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum was greeted by His Excellency Jassim Mohammed Al Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, along with several senior officials. His Highness is leading a high-level UAE delegation that includes several prominent figures, underscoring the importance the UAE places on this diplomatic engagement.

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Among those accompanying His Highness to the summit are Her Excellency Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation; His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade; His Excellency Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State; Her Excellency Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs; and His Excellency Mohamed Al Sahlawi, UAE Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium, and Luxembourg.

The UAE’s active participation in the summit highlights the country’s ongoing efforts to enhance and deepen its relations with the European Union, emphasizing areas of mutual interest that have seen remarkable growth in recent years. This participation reflects the UAE's commitment to fostering cooperation with the EU on both bilateral and regional levels. Through this summit, the UAE and other participating nations aim to advance dialogue on critical issues, address common challenges, and explore new opportunities for collaboration.

Key topics expected to be addressed during the summit include the acceleration of progress in areas of shared priority, such as economy, trade, investment, and sustainability. Moreover, the discussions will likely focus on technology, artificial intelligence, scientific research, and other cutting-edge sectors that are crucial to the evolving global landscape. These issues are not only of strategic importance to both regions but also essential to the broader goal of enhancing the Gulf-European partnership.

The GCC-European Union Summit comes at a time of increasing global complexities and challenges, with both the GCC and the EU recognizing the need for enhanced cooperation to tackle these pressing issues. The summit aims to solidify the strategic partnership between the two regions, building upon existing frameworks and exploring new avenues for collaboration. In addition to economic ties, the summit is expected to address political, social, and cultural dimensions of cooperation, ensuring a comprehensive approach to strengthening the relationship between the GCC and the EU.

This first-of-its-kind summit represents a significant milestone in Gulf-European relations, signaling a shared commitment to work together on common goals and strengthen ties in an increasingly interconnected world.