UAE to celebrate 94th Saudi National Day

emirates7 - The UAE will join Saudi Arabia in celebrating the Kingdom’s 94th National Day on September 23rd, reflecting the strong and brotherly ties between the two nations. These bonds are marked by their depth, complementarity, and a long history of cooperation across various sectors. The UAE's participation underscores the special relationship between the leadership and citizens of both countries, which serves as a key foundation for Gulf, Arab, and regional collaboration, fostering stability, development, and prosperity.

The UAE-Saudi relations have been shaped by the visionary efforts of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, further evolving under the leadership of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The current leadership, with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, continues to deepen these ties.

This fruitful relationship has contributed significantly to comprehensive and sustainable development in both countries, encompassing areas like trade, economic cooperation, joint investments, and strategic coordination. In particular, the economic and trade partnership between the UAE and Saudi Arabia stands as an outstanding example of collaboration and unity.

Over the past decade, non-oil trade between the two nations has grown significantly, rising by about 69 percent to AED135 billion in 2023, compared to AED79.9 billion in 2013, according to the UAE Ministry of Economy. Between 2014 and 2023, non-oil trade totaled AED1.032 trillion, distributed across AED252.46 billion in imports, AED255.5 billion in exports, and AED524 billion in re-exports. In the first half of 2024, trade between the two countries reached $17.53 billion, up 22.5 percent from $14.31 billion during the same period in 2023. UAE exports to Saudi Arabia increased by 10.26 percent to $6.80 billion, while imports from Saudi Arabia surged to $10.73 billion from $8.15 billion during the same period.

In 2016, both countries established the Saudi-Emirati Coordination Council to foster closer cooperation and advance their integrated economic system. Tourism is another growing area of collaboration, seen as a key sector for investment and diversification of economic activities.

Culturally, the UAE and Saudi Arabia share a rich and intertwined heritage, strengthened through various avenues such as education. In the past, Emirati students traveled to Saudi cities like Mecca and Riyadh for schooling, while today, many Saudi students attend universities in the UAE. Cultural exchanges are supported by joint agreements and programmes, highlighting the deep historical, social, and geographical ties between the two nations.

Saudi Arabia’s National Day comes during a time of rapid transformation for the Kingdom, particularly through the "Saudi Vision 2030," one of the world’s most ambitious national development plans, positioning the Kingdom for a bright and prosperous future.