On December 4th, 2023 King Mohammed VI of Morocco was officially received at the prestigious Qasr Al Watan presidential palace by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The procession, escorted by a distinguished squadron of horsemen – a tradition reserved for distinguished guests – led King Mohammed VI from the palace entrance to the emblematic Zayed Gate.

The Moroccan delegation accompanying King Mohammed VI included Councillor Fouad Ali El Himma, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Economy and Finance Minister Nadia Fettah, and other leading figures from various sectors.

The Royal welcome that King Mohammed VI received in the United Arab Emirates bears witness to the close and long-standing ties between Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.

Morocco and the United Arab Emirates are strong regional allies, with cooperation covering a wide range of areas, including the economy and security.
The UAE is among the countries that support Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces in the Western Sahara region. The Gulf states have repeatedly described the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco in 2007 as the most serious and credible initiative for achieving a lasting political solution to the dispute over Western Sahara.

In 2020, the United Arab Emirates opened a consulate general in Laâyoune, in southern Morocco, thus consolidating its position in favour of Moroccan territorial sovereignty.

The UAE was the first Arab country to open diplomatic representation in the country’s southern provinces, and King Mohammed VI described the decision as “historic”, reflecting the UAE’s long-standing support for Morocco’s territorial integrity.

The two countries also share strong economic ties, with bilateral trade set to reach the billion-dollar mark by 2022. The Gulf country is also one of Morocco’s main trading partners.

“Our investments in Morocco exceeded AED 50 billion (USD 14 billion) by the end of 2021, representing 21% of total FDI in Moroccan markets. At the same time, Morocco’s investments in the UAE amounted to AED 289.9 million (USD 79 million) by the end of 2020,” said UAE Economy Minister Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri.