This was the first visit by a President of the Republic of Albania to the United Arab Emirates, reaffirming both countries’ commitment to further strengthening the Albania-UAE partnership with a forward-looking perspective.

The President of the Republic was received by the President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

During the meeting, President Begaj thanked the United Arab Emirates for the solidarity and friendship shown to Albania and the Albanian people during difficult times—particularly during the war in Kosovo, following the 2019 earthquake and after the 2022 cyberattack.

The meeting reflected a shared will to further advance the agenda of strong and enduring cooperation between the two nations, as well as to harness real potential for expanding ties in areas of mutual interest.

President Begaj emphasized that political, economic, and people-to-people ties between Albania and the United Arab Emirates would be further strengthened, particularly with the opening of the UAE Embassy in Tirana. Economic cooperation and investments were among the key pillars of the discussions. Welcoming the strengthening of this partnership, President Begaj advocated for the expansion of bilateral investments and for greater engagement by Emirati investors in Albania—particularly in infrastructure, energy, innovation, tourism and other strategic sectors.

The presidents of the two countries also discussed multilateral cooperation and international challenges, noting that Albania and the United Arab Emirates share common priorities regarding peace, security and development.

During his visit to the United Arab Emirates, President Begaj also held meetings with His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, as well as with His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the United Arab Emirates and Chairman of the Presidential Court. /p.s./

In a post on social media platform X, Rama said Albania “condemns in the strongest possible terms this terrorist assault by a regime that continues to export violence, instability, and insecurity beyond its borders.”

Full statement by Prime Minister Edi Rama:

The renewed missile attacks by the Terrorist State of Iran against the brotherly United Arab Emirates are a reckless, unprovoked, and utterly unjustifiable act of aggression against a sovereign nation and against regional peace itself. The UAE faced again today missile and drone attacks and

We, Albania, condemn in the strongest possible terms this terrorist assault by a regime that continues to export violence, instability, and insecurity beyond its borders.

To target the UAE, a nation that stands for peace, progress, stability, and partnership beyond religions, races, languages, and regions, is not only an attack on one country, but an attack on the very possibility of peace and security in the Gulf and far beyond.

Our full solidarity is with the leadership, people, and defenders of the UAE. Those who seek to terrorize free nations through missiles and intimidation must know that such acts only deepen their isolation and strengthen the resolve of those who stand for sovereignty, security, and global peace. Iran must be held fully accountable for this dangerous escalation and for the sake first and foremost of its own people, who remain hostages of a regime that governs with the instincts of the Stone Age while dragging an ancient nation deeper into isolation, terror, and self-destruction.

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In a statement, the Ministry said the unprovoked strikes on critical infrastructure, including energy facilities, constituted a clear violation of sovereignty and international law.

“Albania stands in full and unwavering solidarity with the UAE, its leadership and its people, as well as with partners across the Middle East,” the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said.

Such attacks are unacceptable and further endanger regional stability, it added.

“Security in the Middle East has direct implications for Europe and beyond. We therefore call for restraint, de-escalation and renewed commitment to diplomatic solutions,” the statement said.

The Ministry underlined that Albania would continue to work closely with its partners to promote stability, peace and security in the region.

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In Abu Dhabi, Prime Minister Rama met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.

Rama termed the meeting a fraternal encounter, affirming his conviction that for active builders of a better world, the best is yet to come.

PM Rama’s visit to Abu Dhabi aims to express firm solidarity with the UAE, while reinforcing the deep-rooted bilateral ties between our two nations.

According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), UAE President Sheikh Mohamed and PM Rama met to advance bilateral relations, focusing on boosting economic, trade, and technology partnerships to drive sustainable growth for both nations. /gj.m/j.p/p.s./

The government head said the attacks by Iran targeted not only the UAE but also the stability and prosperity of the wider Middle East region.

“Albania stands in full and unwavering solidarity with the leadership and the people of the United Arab Emirates,” Rama stated.

He added that security in the Gulf was not merely a local issue but a global necessity.

“Any attempt to destabilize it threatens not only energy routes, trade corridors, and the fragile architecture of regional peace, but the broader equilibrium of international security,” PM Rama said, calling on the international community to “speak with clarity and unity.”

Statement from Prime Minister Edi Rama:

The blind and desperate attacks of the Khomeinist Republic against the United Arab Emirates are not merely an assault on a sovereign nation. They are an assault on stability, prosperity, and on the very idea that the Middle East can be defined by peace and cooperation rather than by war and chaos.

Targeting a peaceful oasis like Dubai with missiles of hate and destruction reveals once again the true nature of the medieval regime in Tehran. This is the reflex of a system doomed to fail, one that exports violence and uses terror as a weapon against peace-seeking neighbours to scare not just them, but first and foremost its own freedom seeking people.

The United Arab Emirates has become a global symbol of peace promotion, openness to dialogue, economic dynamism, interfaith coexistence, and cultural vitality. It represents a model of what a modern Middle East can look like: confident, connected, forward-looking, and simply beautiful. To strike at it blindly is to strike at the very possibility of a region that has chosen development over destruction, cooperation over confrontation, peace over war.

Albania stands in full and unwavering solidarity with the leadership and the people of the United Arab Emirates. Security in the Gulf is not a local concern; it is a global imperative. Any attempt to destabilize it threatens not only energy routes, trade corridors, and the fragile architecture of regional peace, but the broader equilibrium of international security.

The international community must speak with clarity and unity: state-sponsored aggression, missile attacks against civilian environments, and deliberate destabilization by a regime that kills its own people on a massive scale cannot leave any place for the Khomeinist Republic in the community of nations, regardless of differences in systems or political views.

The path forward for the region is not written in missiles, but in mutual recognition, economic integration, and responsible leadership. The UAE, under the visionary direction of its great leader, President Mohammed Bin Zayed, has chosen to be a lighthouse of stability and progress for all peace-loving nations. Those who choose darkness and destruction should find themselves isolated by a world that stands for stability, cooperation, and peace.

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The award, presented at the summit, recognises emerging technological initiatives and new governance models aimed at helping governments prepare for future challenges, particularly in emerging sectors.

The Minister of Economy and Innovation Delina Ibrahimaj, who attended the award ceremony, said on Tuesday that the recognition marked an important international acknowledgement for Albania.

“This award represents international recognition for ‘Diella’, an initiative that marks a bold step for Albania in institutionalizing advanced technologies and advancing the digital transformation of governance,” Ibrahimaj said.

“Diella”, described as the world’s first AI-based minister, aims to improve citizens’ access to public services, accelerate the full digitisation of government documents and processes, and promote the responsible integration of artificial intelligence across key sectors to deliver faster, more accurate and more equitable services.

Ibrahimaj said the award underscored Albania’s commitment to building a modern, transparent and efficient system of governance, with technological innovation placed at the service of citizens and state institutions.

In a video message, “Diella” said the award was more than a distinction, calling it a strong signal that digital transformation is a strategic priority that strengthens transparency, boosts efficiency and expands access to public services.

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The visit began with a reception at the Abu Dhabi Presidential Palace, where Rama was awarded the Zayed Medal, an honour reflecting what officials described as the strong bilateral ties between Albania and the UAE and recognition of Rama’s role in promoting cooperation and sustainable development.

In a social media post on Thursday, the government head described the visit as “an unforgettable welcome,” saying the two countries had agreed on new milestones to deepen what he called a growing and meaningful partnership.

As part of Sustainability Week, Rama participated in a panel discussion titled “Energy Corridors for a Sustainable Future.” He said Albania had made significant investments over the past decade in solar and wind power and aims to achieve full energy self-sufficiency by the end of 2028, eliminating the need for imports.

He underscored the importance of strategic cooperation with the UAE and Italy, calling the partnership a model that seeks not only to strengthen regional energy security but also to enable exports of green energy to the European Union through major interconnection projects.

Rama praised the UAE leadership and the role of Dr Sultan Al Jaber in advancing large-scale energy transition initiatives.

“Our ambition is to build a trilateral partnership with the United Arab Emirates and Italy, establish baseload capacity in Albania and reach three gigawatts, supplying Europe with green energy through the interconnection cable with Italy,” Rama said.

The Prime Minister also highlighted Albania’s progress in digitalisation and the use of artificial intelligence, noting that 95% of public services are now available online.

Rama reaffirmed Albania’s commitment to the green transition, technological innovation and stronger international strategic partnerships in support of sustainable development and European integration.

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Rama said the decoration, the highest honour of the UAE, represented the greatest recognition ever awarded to an Albanian Prime Minister.

“I am profoundly moved by the unimaginable surprise and the extraordinary honor conferred by the President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The awarding of the highest decoration of the friendly nation- bearing the name of the founder of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed- constitutes the greatest expression of respect and recognition ever accorded to an Albanian Prime Minister. I accepted this honor with humility, with deep pride in Albania, and with sincere gratitude to the great friend of the Albanian people, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, as well as to every Albanian who has entrusted me with the leadership and representation of our shared homeland,” Rama wrote on social media.

The medal was presented during Sustainable Development Week in Abu Dhabi, where the annual Zayed Awards ceremony was held.

The awards recognise humanitarian initiatives supporting development in emerging countries, including projects aimed at improving education, access to drinking water, food security for vulnerable communities, and efforts addressing climate change and environmental protection.

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Through a post in the social media, Spiropali emphasized that the forum, “brings together leaders and international personalities for multifaceted cooperation between our countries, to address issues of peace, development and security in a world of challenges”.

During her stay in the UAE and on the sidelines of the forum, Spiropali held a meeting with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE.

Spiropali described the senior Emirati official as an honored friend of Albania, emphasizing that, “Our two countries are no longer united simply by friendly relations and shared values, but by a rich agenda of cooperation.”

They also discussed, among other things, the opening of the UAE embassy in Tirana, the advancement of strategic projects in infrastructure, energy, innovation, tourism and other areas of mutual interest.

Spiropali also met with Minister of International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates Reem Bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy.

The talks focused on the continuation of major projects such as the transformation project of the Port of Durres, the Energy Interconnection Line between Albania, Italy and the UAE, the Smart City project to increase security in public spaces and other collaborations, a sign of the excellent partnership between our two countries. /m.q/j.p/p.s./

Gonxhja and Lootah reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic and institutional cooperation between Albania and the UAE.

“We discussed concrete opportunities for partnerships in strategic areas such as tourism, culture, infrastructure and the creative economy, aiming to position Albania as an attractive destination for investment and long-term development,” Gonxhja said.

He described the meeting as “a constructive dialogue that opens new horizons for bilateral cooperation and sustainable economic interaction between the two countries.”

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