São Paulo – President Jair Bolsonaro called Brazil an Arab country while leaving the United Arab Emirates, which he did this Monday (28) to continue his tour to three Gulf countries. “Everyone here from the Arab world has welcomed us. After all, I believe Brazil is an Arab country, since we have more than 5 million people of Arab descent in our country,” Bolsonaro said in an interview with the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the UAE state-owned news agency. The video of the interview was published in the WAM website.
The UAE was the first Arab country to be visited by Bolsonaro, who arrived this Monday in Qatar, and will go on to Saudi Arabia from there. In the UAE, Bolsonaro had meetings with officials such as the crown prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the emir of Dubai, Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who’s also the vice president and prime minister of the UAE. He participated in a business seminar, watched a jujitsu presentation and visited Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, among other activities.
During the interview with WAM, Bolsonaro declared he was very satisfied with the way he was welcomed in the UAE and said twice he was “extremely pleased” with the trip. “”I am extremely pleased to be here, with the warm, thoughtful way I was treated,” he said, stressing what both countries may offer each other.
He said he was sure that everything that was discussed will soon be materialized. “Brazil has really changed. The figures of the economy prove what I’m saying. and the fact that we are regaining trust in the eyes of the whole world makes more and more countries want to do business with Brazil. Brazil is open for these deals to be implemented via agreements, partnerships, contracts, so that’s a win-win.”
Bolsonaro stated that he will take very good memories from the UAE. “I am extremely pleased to be here. This is a country that holds no prejudice. People here respect each other, especially when it comes to religions,” he said. “It was a wonderful experience meeting with businesspeople and officials from this country, the UAE. I’m taking back memories that I will never forget,” said the Brazilian president.
Bolsonaro said that he decided to start his tour through the Arab country with the UAE because it’s a country that has a “special meaning.” “We have roughly 1,000 professionals working with jujitsu and it’s a country that already do a lot of business with Brazil,” he said, also revealing that the time zone weighed in his decision.
About his meeting with the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Bolsonaro said it “was the best one possible.” “We had a private meeting; we have a very good understanding. There was candidness, sincerity and trust in my meeting with him, and I think we can be assured that our countries are moving ahead towards prosperity and closer ties.”
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
