UAE-Morocco: Growing fraternal partnership

The recent state visit to the Emirates by King Mohammed VI marks a significant step forward in the relationship between these two brotherly countries. His Majesty engaged in fruitful discussions with HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the state. They also signed a declaration aiming for an innovative, renewed, and robust partnership between Morocco and the Emirates. The goal is to develop various areas of economic, trade, and investment cooperation, taking them to broader qualitative horizons that align with the aspirations of the leaderships and the hopes of the two brotherly peoples to strengthen collaboration, enhance bilateral relations, and elevate them towards further development and prosperity.

This noteworthy visit achieved many fruitful results, including the signing of twelve memoranda of understanding, collectively forming an important roadmap for cooperation in various fields between the two countries. These memoranda include establishing an investment partnership in high-speed train projects in Morocco, a memorandum on a groundbreaking partnership in the water sector, another on a developmental collaboration, a third on an investment alliance in the agriculture and fisheries sectors, a fourth on investment cooperation in the airports sector, a fifth on the gas pipeline between Morocco and Nigeria, a sixth for investment collaboration in the ports sector, a seventh on mutual cooperation in the financial markets and the capital market, an eighth on establishing an investment partnership in data storage projects.

Traditionally, Emirati-Moroccan relations are described in political literature as historical fraternal ties. This solid foundation provides the necessary climate for development, supported by the robust links between the leaderships of both countries. This is reflected in the welcoming words, the reception atmosphere, and the official warmth extended to the Moroccan monarch in the Emirates. HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the state, welcomed King Mohammed VI to Qasr Al Watan, stating that His Majesty is welcome in his country and among his people. HH affirmed the strength of the solid fraternal bonds between the UAE and Morocco, based on understanding, mutual respect, and cooperation, founded by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and King Hassan II. He emphasized the commitment to continue their approach and legacy in enhancing these relationships and building upon them.

There is a strong joint will to strengthen and develop the relations. Therefore, the agreements and memoranda of understanding signed during reciprocal visits play a vital role in opening new avenues for cooperation and achieving aspirations in the coming period. The two countries agreed during the joint committee meetings in April last year to double their trade and investment exchanges over the next 7 years.

The partnership declaration also is a bright point in the history of Emirati-Moroccan relations. Such formulations in international relations embody long-term intentions and paths, providing a strategic framework for all institutions and sectors in both countries. They reflect a strong common desire to move forward in building on achievements in various fields of bilateral cooperation, achieving positive breakthroughs through fruitful partnerships in different cooperation areas that serve the interests of both countries and their brotherly peoples. The signed memoranda of understanding cover a broad range of cooperation areas, developmental sectors, and investments in various strategic dimensions, expanding the base of cooperation and strengthening ties.

What distinguishes the strong relations between the UAE and Morocco is not limited to political, economic, and investment fields. It encompasses a complete system of relations that touch on social, cultural, intellectual, and humanitarian aspects. Despite the importance of common interests as a crucial axis in the structure of international relations, the relations between the UAE and Morocco go beyond traditional frameworks in their significance. They are built on warmth, strong fraternal bonds that provide these relations with a unique level of privacy and distinctiveness, offering immunity and resilience in the face of political changes and intersecting interests.

Based on the strong foundation of Emirati-Moroccan relations, cooperation continues to deepen and strengthen thanks to the high-level support from HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the state, and his brother, His Majesty King Mohammed VI. The bilateral relations between the two countries have become an exemplary model for cooperation at both the official and popular levels. Morocco is an exceptional partner in development, cooperation, and continuous consultation to support common Arab and Islamic work, to preserve security and stability, promote values of tolerance, coexistence, and moderation, and reject violence, extremism, and terrorism.

In addition to the strong growth in trade, economic, and investment exchanges (the UAE being the second-largest Arab trading partner for Morocco in 2021, with non-oil foreign trade between the two countries reaching AED 3.6 bln, that’s USD 991.2 mln) in 2022, achieving a growth rate of 16% compared to 2021 and 67% compared to 2020. With the UAE holding the first position in Arab investments and the second globally with investments exceeding AED 50 billion in Morocco, it is also noteworthy that the number of memoranda of understanding signed during the recent visit of King Mohammed VI to the UAE is approximately equal to the total memoranda signed between the two countries in previous years and decades. These memoranda represent a framework for the joint committee established in May 1985, holding its first session in Abu Dhabi in November 1988, chaired by the foreign ministers of both countries. The second session took place in Rabat in June 2001. The diversity and inclusiveness of cooperation areas, touching on various aspects of economic and developmental cooperation, reflect the value of the partnership between the two countries and its growing importance.

The evidence confirms that the historical fraternal relations between the Abu Dhabi and Rabat are experiencing their most splendid periods and stages. No matter how extensively these relations are described, what His Majesty King Mohammed VI said about the ties between the two brotherly countries being “exemplary relations is the best guarantee of loyalty to the Pact sealed between Sheikh Zayed and Hassan II, may they rest in peace,” remains the best expression of the reality of these strong fraternal bonds.

Salem AlKetbi, UAE political analyst and former Federal National Council candidate