São Paulo – The visit of the president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, to the United Arab Emirates this Saturday (15) resulted in the signing of a series of agreements between the two countries, demonstrating the willingness of the governments to strengthen the relationship and in-depth cooperation.
Lula’s visit took place during Ramadan, the holy period of Islam in which Muslims abstain from various activities and fast from sunrise to sunset. On his Twitter account, the Brazilian president informed it was the first time the UAE received a state head visit in the period.
Lula was received by the president of the UAE and emir of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at the Qasr Al Watan palace, in a ceremony with UAES’s guard of honor and knights, the playing of the National Anthem of Brazil, 21-gun salute artillery shots, and an acrobatic flight by the local Air Force spreading the colors of the Brazilian flag in the sky.
The official local news agency, Emirates News Agency (WAM), reported the visit was Lula’s first to an Arab country in his third term and highlighted the deep and longstanding ties between Brazil and the UAE.
Upon arrival at the airport, alongside First Lady Rosângela Lula da Silva (also known as Janja), the Brazilian president was received by the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of the UAE, Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei. In an interview with WAM, he said the visit would encourage greater cooperation in energy, infrastructure, transport, water resources, and sustainability.
Agreements
Among the agreements signed during Lula’s visit to the country were a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation between Brazil’s Rio Branco Diplomacy Institute and the UAE’s Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy on diplomatic training and an MoU for climate action.
The governor of the Brazilian state of Bahia, Jerônimo Rodrigues, a delegation member, signed an MoU between the state and the Mataripe refinery plant. The refinery is owned by Acelen, controlled by the UAE’s sovereign fund, Mubadala. It will build a biofuel plant to produce green diesel and jet fuel with an investment of BRL 12 billion (About USD 2.43 billion at the current rate).
In an interview released by WAM, the UAE’s minister of Economy, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, said his country has USD 5 billion in investments in Brazil and mentioned the Mubadala fund, which is the biggest investor in this relationship, port operator DP World, Emirates Airlines, the First Abu Dhabi Bank, and technology company Yahsat.
Talks between the state heads
Talks between the Emirati and Brazilian presidents revolved around several subjects, mainly possibilities for cooperation and collaboration in fields such as economics, trade, technology, environmental protection, climate change, renewable energy, and food security.
Climate change was one of the central issues, as the UAE will host the 28th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP28) later this year. The two leaders expressed the need to increase joint international action to face environmental issues. Al Nahyan said he expects Brazil’s active participation in COP28.
Al Nahyan said the UAE prizes relations with Brazil as they seek to strengthen ties with South American countries, especially in sustainable development. Lula wished the UAE success in hosting COP28, and the Arab leader congratulated the Brazilian candidacy on hosting COP30 in 2025.
They also exchanged views on regional and global issues and reinforced their shared interest in supporting world peace and stability. Both countries have non-permanent United Nations (UN) Security Council seats, and they shared the view a board renovation is needed.
Brazil will take over the temporary presidency of Mercosur, its bloc with Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, and has committed itself to propose a dialogue between the UAE and the group.
Iftar
Lula was honored by the sheik with an iftar, the collective break of feast Muslims do during Ramadan after sunset. Several authorities and ministers from both countries participated in the Iftar and meeting.
Brazil and the UAE have had 49 years of diplomatic relations. The Arab country is among Brazil’s main trade partners in the Middle East, with a balance of USD 5.7 billion in trade in 2022, an 74% increase over 2021, according to the Brazilian government. Agribusiness accounts for almost 60% of sales from Brazil to the Arab country.
Read also: Remember Brazil’s Lula 1st visit to the UAE in 2003
*With information from Emirates News Agency (WAM)
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
