Local Press: UAE-Saudi Arabia ties an exceptional model

Spontaneous celebrations across the UAE marking Saudi Arabia’s 88th National Day are testimony to the special bonds of love, brotherhood and unity that reigns between the two countries, an editorial in a local English language daily has said.

The editorial, in today’s edition of The Gulf Today, added, “The relationship is a major stabilising force in dealing with the challenges and risks threatening Arab and Gulf security.”

The neighbours share a common vision on many crucial issues, which include taking firm measures to counter extremism and promoting effective dialogue between cultures and civilisations. And the one major common goal of the leadership on both sides has been to ensure happiness and prosperity to their people.

In June, the UAE and Saudi Arabia took a momentous step to accelerate joint co-operation by holding the first meeting of the Saudi-Emirati Coordination Council in Jeddah. With multifarious initiatives and projects being discussed and implemented, the council will, without a doubt, herald a new era of stronger, prosperous future for the people.

The special ties grew to unprecedented levels, through a joint vision of economic, development and military integration involving 44 joint strategic projects that formed part of “The Strategy of Resolve,” which was planned over 12 months by 350 Emirati and Saudi officials from 139 government and military authorities.

Education is one of the key sectors that have helped keep the bond strong and speaks volumes about how a visionary approach of the leadership on both sides could help people across all sections.

Emirati students have travelled to Saudi Arabia to study at schools in Makkah, Al Ahsa and Riyadh, while many Saudi students are enrolled at UAE universities and academic institutions.

The trade and economic relations between the UAE and Saudi are the largest among GCC countries, and the UAE is a key trading partner of Saudi Arabia in the Arab region and the GCC. The value of the trade exchange reached around AED88.3 billion in 2017.

“The UAE-Saudi relationship is so adorably strong that it presents an exceptional Arab model of co-operation,” concluded the Sharjah-based daily.