UAE and Serbia leaders pledge to enhance ties

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Aleksandar Vucic, President of the Republic of Serbia, on Saturday attended a military parade held as part of celebrations marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag. The event took place during Sheikh Mohamed’s’ working visit to Serbia.

Sheikh Mohamed was welcomed by President Vucic and senior Serbian officials upon his arrival at the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade, in front of which the parade took place.

The parade featured various units of the Serbian Armed Forces, including displays of military vehicles, defence systems, river fleet vessels, command and protection forces, air defence units, and paratroopers. A ceremonial display of the Serbian national flag, stretching approximately 300 metres, also took place in front of the main grandstand.

Sheikh Mohamed congratulated President Vucic on this national occasion, wishing Serbia and its people continued progress, stability and prosperity. He also reaffirmed the strength of UAE-Serbia relations and the shared commitment to further enhancing bilateral ties in the interests of both nations and their peoples.

The parade was also attended by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence; Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs; Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Adviser to the UAE President; along with several ministers and senior officials accompanying Sheikh Mohamed during the visit.

Sheikh Mohamed later departed Belgrade, concluding his working visit to Serbia.

In July this year, during their meeting in Belgrade the two leaders had reviewed a number of regional and international issues of mutual interest. In this context, His Highness underscored that the UAE believes in the importance of cooperation and in prioritising dialogue and diplomacy in resolving disputes and addressing crises.

Sheikh Mohamed reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to supporting peace and stability in the Balkans, highlighting the importance the country places on building development-focused partnerships with all nations in the region for the benefit of their peoples.

Both sides expressed their shared interest in continuing efforts to strengthen UAE-Serbia ties in order to drive growth and prosperity for both countries and their peoples. They also underlined the importance of working together to support peace, stability, and development regionally and globally. In June this year, Sheikh Mohamed welcomed Vucic - who was on a working visit to the UAE – at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi.

Both leaders expressed hope that the visit would help advance the ongoing development of relations between the two countries.

The two leaders reviewed various aspects of UAE-Serbia cooperation and discussed opportunities for further collaboration, particularly in the fields of the economy, investment, development, renewable energy, food security, and other key sectors that contribute to accelerating growth and prosperity in both nations. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and the Serbian President also exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern, particularly the latest developments in the Middle East.

In this context, they emphasised the importance of intensifying efforts to restore security and stability in the region, promote dialogue and diplomatic solutions, and support peace, stability and development at both regional and global levels.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening UAE–Serbia relations and building sustainable economic partnerships that support development priorities and meet the aspirations of both nations and their peoples. This aligns with the objectives of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which came into effect in May 2025 and seeks to boost trade volumes and foster economic growth in both countries.

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Serbia has officially come into force in May 2025, marking a significant milestone in the deepening of economic ties between the two nations. The agreement is set to foster enhanced trade and investment flows, paving the way for collaboration across a wide variety of priority sectors.

WAM