Relations between UAE and Saudi Arabia grow stronger
Sheikh Mohamed and Saudi Crown Prince discuss cooperation and acceleration of joint efforts to ensure the higher good of the people of their countries and the whole region
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Saudi Arabia, on Monday explored avenues for enhancing the flourishing relations and strategic cooperation between their countries.
This came as the Saudi Crown Prince welcomed Sheikh Mohamed and his accompanying delegation in Riyadh on Monday.
The two leaders exchanged Eid Al Adha greetings and wished continuing development, progress and prosperity for the Islamic nation and the whole world and prayed to Allah Almighty to rid humanity of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sheikh Mohamed conveyed the greetings of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to his brother the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, wishing him continued good health and wellbeing, which Mohammed Bin Salman reciprocated by conveying the greetings of King Salman to the UAE President.
The sides discussed cooperation and acceleration of joint efforts to ensure the higher good of the peoples of their countries and the whole region, and reviewed the latest regional, Arab and international developments of mutual concern and efforts to eliminate political challenges towards achieving peace and stability.
In atendance during the meeting were Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Adviser; Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan; and Ali Bin Hammad Al Shamsi, Deputy Secretary-general of the Supreme National Security Council.
Atending the meeting from the Saudi side as well were Prince Turki Bin Mohammed Bin Fahad Bin Abdulaziz, Minister of State; Khalid Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Defence Minister; and Dr Masa’ad Bin Mohammed Al Aiban, Minister of State and National Security Advisor.
Moreover, Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, UAE Minister of State, concluded a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia as head of a delegation of Emirati experts, which held meetings with the Saudi Central Bank ( ( SAMA) on 13th and 14th July, 2021. The delegation included Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), and Hamid Al Zaabi, Director-general of the Executive Office of Anti-money Laundering and Counter-terrorism Financing. The Saudi side was led by Dr. Fahad Al Mubarak, Governor of the Saudi Central Bank and Chairman of the Standing Anti-money Laundering Commitee.
The meetings took place under the framework of the close bilateral cooperation between the UAE and Saudi Arabia in combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
During the meetings, the Emirati experts briefed the Saudi delegation about the various initiatives and procedures recently adopted by the UAE to improve the efficiency of the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing system, including the establishment of a relevant supreme commitee chaired by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and the creation of the Executive Office of Anti-money Laundering and Counter-terrorism Financing.
The Emirati delegation also highlighted the country’s related national plan, including an overview of the efforts to assess money laundering and terrorist financing risks, counter arms financing, and the latest directives of the Designated Non-financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBP), as well as the work of relevant authorities in raising the private sector’s awareness of anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing.
“The visit of a senior delegation of experts from the UAE took place under the framework of our cooperation with our strategic partners, most notably Saudi Arabia, to inform relevant authorities about the UAE’S progress in boosting the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing system, in addition to exchanging knowledge and expertise with relevant Saudi authorities,” Al Sayegh said.