His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, attended the 31st Arab Summit as the head of the UAE delegation. The two-day Summit commenced today in the Algerian capital Algiers.
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid was received at the venue of the Summit by His Excellency Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President of Algeria, and Chair of this year’s Arab Summit. His Highness congratulated the Algerian President on the occasion of the country’s National Day. The 31st edition of the Arab Summit is the first to be held after the outbreak of the pandemic. The Cairo-based Arab League last held its summit in Tunisia in 2019.
On its first day, the 31st Arab Summit discussed how members of the Arab League can work together to develop a united stance on various issues affecting the region and promote cooperation to tackle regional and international challenges. The Summit aims to bolster pan-Arab solidarity, consolidate joint Arab action and discuss new initiatives that can achieve the aspirations of the people of the region.
The Summit started with an address by His Excellency Kais Saied, President of Tunisia, the Chair of the previous Arab Summit, in which he highlighted challenges facing the Arab world due to the economic impact of the pandemic. He called on Arab nations to work together to combat vital challenges.
Later, His Excellency Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President of Algeria, and Chair of this year’s Arab Summit, addressed the event. The 31st Arab Summit, he said, is taking place at a time when the world is going through serious challenges. The Arab world has the resources and capabilities to be a major global economic power, he said, adding that the region should work collectively
to identify key development priorities in order to make a positive impact on people’s lives.
The first day of the Summit also featured addresses by Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General of the Arab League; His Excellency Macky Sall, President of Senegal and current Chair of the African Union; His Excellency Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General; His Excellency Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the current Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement; and His Excellency Hissein Brahim Taha, Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
Earlier, on his arrival in Algiers, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid was received by His Excellency Ayman ben Abdelrahman, Prime Minister of Algeria, at an official ceremony held at the Houari Boumediene International Airport.
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid is being accompanied by a high-level UAE delegation that
includes His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; His Excellency Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; His Excellency Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President; His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy; Her Excellency Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation; His Excellency Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State; His Excellency Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Chairman of Protocols for the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE; His Excellency Yousef Saif Khamis Sebaa Al Ali, UAE Ambassador to Algeria, and Her Excellency Mariam Al Kaabi, Permanent Representative of the UAE in the Arab League.
