UAE and Saudi agree joint diplomat trainee scheme

Second meeting of the UAE-Saudi Co-operation Council results in creation of new partnership committees

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and Mohammad bin Salman, his Saudi counterpart, meet last year at the 2018 Formula E Saudi Ad Diriyah E Prix. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Show more

The UAE and Saudi Arabia have struck an agreement to help train each other's diplomats as the countries also formalised a partnership in developing space technology.

The deals were announced this week following the second meeting of the UAE-Saudi Co-operation Council, which aims to strengthen ties and accelerate partnerships between the nations.

The diplomatic initiative will allow the Emirates Diplomatic Academy and the Prince Saud Al Faisal Institute of Diplomatic Studies to share expertise and hold training and study programmes for members of both foreign ministries.

The agreement comes after the launch of the first pan-Arab organisation for space collaboration last month, which will bring together 11 countries in the region.

"The package of projects and initiatives reviewed by the council's executive committee corroborates the fertile ground for co-operation between the two sisterly nations to launch new projects and complete the programmes launched over the past period," said Mohammed Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs and joint chair of the council.

“We are looking forward to tapping fresh vistas of collaboration across new sectors, including health and space, among others."

The co-operation council met for the first time last summer. Its creation has been seen as a sign of further cementing an already close relationship between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which also encompasses military operations.

A second meeting in Riyadh resulted in the implementation of a series of joint strategic initiatives to help accelerate co-operation.

Seven committees will be launched, each co-chaired by a UAE and Saudi representative, to oversee the programmes.

A military and security committee has also been formed, as have bodies focusing on politics, tourism and the environment.

An open market project will "help achieve economic diversity and maintain their market performance," a report by UAE state news agency Wam said.

The issue of food security will also be considered, and there was also agreement on a "joint vision related to tourism and natural heritage".