São Paulo – Diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Kuwait—Arab countries that are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)—held meetings with Brazil’s Minister of Tourism, Celso Sabino, and the governor of Pará state, Helder Barbalho, in Belém, the city that will host global climate summit COP30 in November.
Sabino received the diplomats on Tuesday (12) as part of the group’s visit to Belém organized by the Ministry of Tourism ahead of COP30, aiming to strengthen ties, expand cooperation, and attract investments in logistics, infrastructure, and sustainable solutions. According to the ministry, the meeting reinforced international alliances to ensure the success of a historic event in the Amazon.
Sabino said this year’s conference will be a unique opportunity to showcase the Amazon as the host of a high-level, globally impactful event. The Minister of Tourism presented to the group of ambassadors and diplomats initiatives to modernize the local hotel network, improve urban transportation, expand regional air routes, and support accommodations in preparation for COP30.
He said the presence of GCC nations’ representatives in Belém is strategic. “When we talk about the Forest COP, we are talking about the future of more than 30 million people living under the tree canopies, in communities that preserve, produce, and resist. Connecting these different realities shows that the Amazon is made of people, culture, and solutions that can inspire the world,” Sabino said.
The UAE Deputy Ambassador to Brazil, Maisoon AlDah, shared her impressions with the Ministry of Tourism, according to information released by the ministry. “We had the opportunity to visit hotels and see the facilities that will host COP30, and we were very pleased with what we saw. Belém is clearly doing everything—and doing it very well—to ensure the conference achieves great results and leaves a positive legacy for all,” she said.
At the meeting with Barbalho and Vice Governor Hana Ghassan on Monday (11), the goal was to strengthen bilateral relations, explore future partnership opportunities, and discuss the preparation of Belém for COP30, according to the Pará state government news outlet Agência Pará. Barbalho said hosting COP30 in the capital of Pará offers the world an opportunity to immerse itself in the Amazon and understand the region’s environmental, climate, and social challenges.
The governor also emphasized the importance of strengthening ties with Gulf countries to finance projects in the Amazon. “We face the challenge of collectively building the energy transition process and are aware of the challenges in reducing emissions. But we’d like very much to deepen relations to secure financing for our biodiversity,” he said.
Representing the GCC Ambassadors Council, Kuwait’s ambassador to Brazil, Talal Rashed Almansour, said “the expectation is that COP30 will be an opportunity to surpass previous COPs. This is my first visit to Pará, but I’ve often seen photos of Belém’s preparations for COP. Overall, I believe COP30 will be a success. We appreciate the efforts of the federal, state, and municipal governments to ensure the event succeeds and exceeds all expectations,” he said.
According to Agência Pará, the GCC diplomats’ delegation included, in addition to AlDah from the UAE and Almansour from Kuwait, Bahrain’s ambassador to Brazil, Bader Abbas Hasan Ahmed Alhelaibi; Oman’s ambassador, Abdulghaffar Al Bulushi; Qatar’s ambassador, Ahmad Mohammed Ali Mohamed Alshebani; and the First Secretary of the Saudi Arabian Embassy, Meshal Alshalan.
According to ministry, the delegation also visited key hotels, tourist and cultural sites such as the Estação das Docas, and took a boat tour along the city’s waterfront, among other activities that allowed them to explore the infrastructure and engage with local authorities.
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Ambassadors discover a new side of Brazil in Pará
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
