As published in
The 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malta and the UAE highlights the close bonds that promote the continued development and prosperity of both nations.
An urban oasis spanned by a shining geometric dome on the edge of the Arabian Gulf might seem an unlike setting for the reunion of two treasures from the ancient world. And yet under the exquisite filigree can- opy of Abu Dhabi’s iconic Louvre Museum stand the Cippi–twin pillars of Maltese origin, dating to the 2nd Century BC–re-united after 241-year separation.
That the Cippi – which were once used to decipher Phoenician script–are together again is a testament to the power of in ternational culture and diplomacy.It is also a symbol of the long-standing bilateral relationship between Malta and the United Arab Emirates, whose 50-year milestone was marked at a recent celebration held in Abu Dhabi in October this year.
The event, attended by Maltese nation- als, Emirati and international dignitaries from every political, social and cultural sphere, showcased the shared commit- ments between the two nations and sig- nalled fresh prospects for future collabora-tions in Malta’s travel and tourism, digital, infrastructure and cultural sectors.
The anniversary crowned a year of land-mark events. In April, Malta and the UAE signed formal cooperation agreements for sectors including maritime, culture and sports, while in June UAE President His High-ness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met George Vella, President of Malta on an official visit to kickstart further discussions on sustainable development and growth op-portunities between the two nations.
The enduring bilateral ties be-tween Malta and the United Arab Emirates were among the topics for discussion when H.H. Pres-ident Sheikh Mohamed met with Mal-tese President George Vella, on an of-ficial visit to the UAE in June this year.As the countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the two leaders discussed the oppor- tunities for new collaborations – espe-cially in energy, digital development and the green economy – that would benefit both nations in the future. With sustainability and the impact of climate change on smaller nations high on the agenda at COP28 this week, talks also included exploring how the nations could cooperate fur-ther to strengthen the international re-sponse to the threat of environmentalchanges and other global challenges.
