The recently agreed MOUs reached between the UAE and Bahrain are intended to promote bilateral cooperation between the two countries in many important areas and pave the way for the effective realization of economic growth plans of both countries. A new executive programme has also been launched encompassing some key areas including investment and trade, higher education, teacher training and human resources.
The MOUs were signed during the official visit of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain to UAE in November 2021. Prince Salman met His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, during his visit.
HRH Prince Salman and HH Sheikh Mohammed were present during the signing of several agreements and MoUs including the new executive programme that spans over several areas such as climate change, higher education, teacher training, human resources, trade and investment, advanced technology, economic integration, food security, health care, artificial intelligence in oil and gas, transportation, technical support for upstream industries, cyber security, cyberspace technical cooperation, logistics, combating crime, and stock markets.
At the end of the visit, a joint statement was issued by the governments of the UAE and Bahrain wherein the two countries agreed to promote bilateral cooperation in key areas to attain mutual benefits and joint objectives of both countries. Each country agreed to encourage ministries and government authorities to cooperate and transform cooperation objectives into joint ventures.
Both the countries committed to addressing the pandemic and exchanging best practices and reinforcing scientific cooperation in medical research. Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed bin Nasser Al Owais, UAE Minister of Health and Prevention, and Faeqa bint Saeed AlSaleh, Bahraini Minister of Health, exchanged an MoU on health cooperation.
The two countries also committed to cooperating in employment, labour and localisation and exchange expertise and best practices in these areas. An MoU on labour and HRD was signed between Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar, UAE Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, and Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, Bahraini Minister of Labour and Social Development.
An MOU on Cybersecurity Cooperation was exchanged between Mohamed Hamad Ak Kuwaiti, the Head of Cybersecurity of the UAE government and Sheikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, CEO of National Cybersecurity Strategy of Bahrain.
The two countries agreed to work jointly to address the burning issue of climate change and an MoU on climate change and environmental cooperation were exchanged by Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change, and Dr Mohammed Mubarak bin Dainah, Chief Executive Officer of the Supreme Council for Environment of Bahrain.
Technological advancement was also on the agenda of two countries and an MoU on industry and advanced technology was exchanged between Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Zayed bin Rashid AlZayani, Bahraini Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism.
Two MoUs, one each on higher education and executive programme for cooperation in education for three years; 2021, 2022 and 2023 were exchanged between Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri, UAE Minister of State for Advanced Technology, and Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain.
The two countries agreed on cooperation in trade and investment and an MoU was signed between Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Zayed bin Rashid AlZayani, Bahraini Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism. Advancing the tourism industry was also the focus of both countries.
To recognize UAE as a partner in Bahrain Global Sea-Air Logistics Hub, an MoU was exchanged between Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and Zayed bin Rashid AlZayani, Bahraini Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism to restore the aviation sector to the pre-pandemic level.
An MoU was reached between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Gas Holding Company of Bahrain. Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNOC, and Dr Mohammed Mubarak bin Dinah, Chief Executive Officer of the Supreme Council for Environment of Bahrain, also exchanged an MoU between Adnoc and Tatweer Petroleum.
UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, and Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Bahraini Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, signed an MoU on transportation and communications.
An MoU was signed between Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and Bahrain Bourse and was represented by Saeed Hamad Al Dhaheri, ADX CEO, and Khalifa Ibrahim Al Khalifa, CEO of Bahrain Bourse.
Export promotion has already been an area of cooperation between the two countries as Export Bahrain and Dubai Industries and Exports signed an agreement in October 2021 to support Bahraini investors exploring the UAE market and Dubai company incorporation.
It was agreed that relevant national organisations from both countries will reinforce their economic ties. A centre will be established for UAE nationals looking for a company formation in Bahrain that would connect commercial registries in the two countries.
The Crown Princes of both the countries expressed their common and sincere desire to support bilateral relations moving forward for mutual development and progress of the two countries and contribute to building a prosperous future for their citizens.
