Timeframe: When George W Bush visited the UAE in 2008

The then US president saw different parts of the country and its heritage during a two-day visit

During his official visit to the United Arab Emirates in 2008, US President George W Bush met with the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE. Photo: Reuters

In January 2008, George W Bush, then president of the United States, travelled to the UAE in a visit that would become a cornerstone moment for relations between the two countries.

Bush was the first sitting US president to visit the Emirates. He arrived on Sunday, January 13 as part of a tour of the Middle East.

He was greeted by senior officials from the government including current UAE President Sheikh Mohamed, who was then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE armed forces, as well as Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the current Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.

UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, then President of the UAE, hosted Bush at Mushrif Palace. The national anthems of the UAE and US were played as the artillery fired a 21-gun salute.

Across his two-day visit, Bush saw different parts of the country and its heritage. He was shown an exhibition that showcased plans for the Saadiyat Cultural District, and was the guest of honour at a dinner at a desert encampment.

Bush also visited Dubai during the trip. Heavy rainfall had caused traffic in the city that month. Several main routes, including Sheikh Zayed Road, were closed off to the public to ensure the US president’s motorcade could travel freely. Bush also dined at the Burj Al Arab during the visit.

Bush and President Sheikh Mohamed recently recollected the visit during the UAE President’s official visit to the US in September. According to WAM, they spoke about how the visit “further strengthened the two nations’ robust partnership”.

“Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed reaffirmed that the shared commitment to promoting security, stability and peace, both in the region and globally, has been a central pillar of UAE-US cooperation over the past decades, and expressed his confidence that this collaboration will continue into the future,” the statement from WAM read.