South Korea's Yoon Suk Yeol meets President Sheikh Mohamed in Abu Dhabi during state visit

Leaders attend ceremony at Qasr Al Watan

President Sheikh Mohamed and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attend a state visit reception at Qasr Al Watan on Sunday, January 15. All photos: UAE Presidential Court

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and managing director and group chief executive of Adnoc, and Changyang Lee, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy of South Korea exchange an agreement

Tareq Al Hosani, board member of Taqa, and a South Korean counterpart exchange an agreement

Sheikh Mohamed with Mr Yoon

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, Lt General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Abu Dhabi Executive Council member at Qasr Al Watan

Sheikh Mohamed receives Mr Yoon and First Lady Kim Keon-hee

Sheikh Mohamed with Mr Yoon.

Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Yoon with senior officials, including Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Group CEO of Adnoc, Suhail Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Sarah Al Amiri, UAE Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology, and Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade

Sheikh Mohamed greets a member of Al Forsan aerobatic team

Sheikh Mohamed, Mr Yoon and Ms Kim with members of Al Forsan aerobatic team

Sheikh Mohamed, Mr Yoon and Ms Kim

Sheikh Mohamed greets members of the South Korean delegation

Mr Yoon signs the guest book

Singers and musicians participate in a cultural show

Sheikh Mohamed, Mr Yoon and Ms Kim Keon Hee stand for the national anthem

Sheikh Mohamed, Mr Yoon and Ms Kim stand for the national anthem

The UAE's Armed Forces Honour Guard at the state visit reception for Mr Yoon

Traditional dancers at the reception

Mr Yoon is on a four-day official visit

Camel riders welcome the vehicle escorting Mr Yoon

UAE Armed Forces perform a 21-gun salute

The Al Forsan aerobatic team perform a fly-by for the arrival of Mr Yoon

Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Yoon will explore ways to bolster co-operation in line with their strategic partnership

Sheikh Mohamed receives Mr Yoon and Ms Kim at Qasr Al Watan

Sheikh Mohamed greets Ms Kim

Sheikh Mohamed receives Mr Yoon

Mr Yoon greets schoolchildren

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, receives Mr Yoon

Sheikh Abdullah receives Mr Yoon and the first lady at the Presidential Airport in Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Abdullah is accompanied by Khaldoon Al Mubarak, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority and managing director and group chief executive of Mubadala Investment Company

Mr Yoon arrived in Abu Dhabi on Saturday

His visit will formally begin on Sunday, state news agency Wam reported

Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, greets the South Korean President after his arrival at the airport in Abu Dhabi. In the background is Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure

Sheikh Abdullah, Mr Yoon and Ms Kim with Mr Al Mazrouei, Ms Al Kaabi, Mr Al Mubarak and other officials

Mr Al Mazrouei welcomes Mr Yoon

Abdullah Al Nuaimi, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of South Korea, chats with Mr Yoon

The South Korean leader will meet a number of state officials and visit development projects during the trip, Wam said

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was welcomed to Abu Dhabi by President Sheikh Mohamed as he embarked on a four-day visit.

He was accompanied by first lady Kim Keon-hee, and together they attended an official reception ceremony at Qasr Al Watan on Sunday.

The occasion included a performance of the South Korean national anthem, followed by 21-artillery rounds fired, and guards of honour lining up to salute the distinguished guest.

"I was pleased to welcome President Yoon Suk Yeol to the UAE," Sheikh Mohamed said.

"We had fruitful discussions and witnessed the signing of several agreements and MOUs.

"Our Special Strategic Partnership with the Republic of Korea will continue to strengthen and serve our common interests and goals."

Mr Yoon was greeted on Saturday at the Presidential Airport by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Khaldoon Mubarak, chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority and member of the Executive Council, and Abdullah Al Nuaimi, UAE ambassador to the Republic of Korea.

Emirati fighter jets accompanied the plane carrying the South Korean president as it entered the UAE's airspace to greet the country's guest.

The visit formally began on Sunday, state news agency Wam said.

Mr Yoon will hold talks with President Sheikh Mohamed and is here for Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which runs from January 14 to 19.

Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Yoon will explore ways to bolster co-operation in line with a strategic partnership in place between their nations.

The South Korean leader will meet a number of state officials and visit development projects during the trip, Wam said.

Discussions will centre on nuclear energy, climate change, health, the space sector, smart agriculture and culture.

“Choosing the UAE as the first foreign visit [of 2023] reflects President Yoon's determination to enhance the strategic partnership with the UAE in energy, investment, defence and nuclear energy,” said Kim Sung Han, South Korea's National Security Adviser, in comments carried by Wam.

The UAE and South Korea are working to strengthen ties. In December, Sheikh Mohamed met Kim Dae Ki, a special envoy of the South Korean President, at Qasr Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi.

Mr Kim delivered a written message from Mr Yoon, which spoke of the friendship between the nations, and the co-operation and opportunities to develop them further within the framework of the two countries' partnership.

During the meeting, both sides stressed the importance of expanding current co-operation and partnership between the UAE and South Korea, especially in economy, trade, investment, energy in its various traditional and renewable sectors, advanced technology and other fields that relate to economic diversification plans and building a knowledge-based economy that have been adopted by both countries.

The UAE and South Korea forged diplomatic ties in 1980, with relations flourishing in the decades since.

South Korea played a leading role in the construction of the UAE's Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, the first such facility of its kind in the Arab world.

The nations have also worked in partnership in the space sector, pooling their expertise to send satellites up.

“President Yoon Suk Yeol’s state visit from January 14 to 17 brings new expectations and hope,” Yoo Jeh Seung, South Korean ambassador to the UAE, told The National this week.

“Our two countries have, up to this point, been considered brotherly nations with a special strategic partnership, but now, given the significance of this visit, we see an opportunity to take off for a greater future.”