President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has sent letters to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Dubai; His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates; and, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE’s Armed Forces, on the occasion of UAE’s National Day.

The President’s message to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE reads as follows:

“Your Highness

As the United Arab Emirates celebrates the festive occasion of its National Day, I have the honour to extend cordial felicitations and sincere good wishes to Your Highness, the Government and brotherly people of the United Arab Emirates.

The Maldives deeply cherishes the warm and long-standing ties of friendship that exist between our two countries. The resilience of our alliance has grown decade after decade, and my Government remains firmly committed to further enhance relations between the Maldives and the United Arab Emirates in the years ahead.

With my personal best wishes for your good health and well-being, as well as for further progress and welfare of the people of the United Arab Emirates, please accept, Your Highness, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

His message to His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of UAE reads as follows: 

“Your Highness

As the United Arab Emirates commemorate the happy occasion of its 48th Eid al-Watani, it gives me great pleasure to convey warmest congratulations and best wishes to Your Highness, the Government and the fraternal people of the United Arab Emirates.

The Maldives and the United Arab Emirates have enjoyed over four decades of strong bilateral relationship that has withstood the test of time. Our two countries are bound by historic ties of friendship and close cooperation founded on reciprocal respect, shared principles and deepening people-to-people ties. Let me emphasise my most profound gratitude for the generous assistance that the United Arab Emirates continues to make towards our socio-economic development. I am confident that the strong bonds of friendship continue to prosper in the years ahead for the mutual benefit of our peoples. 

I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Highness the assurances of my highest consideration and esteem.”

President Solih’s message to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi reads as follows: 

“Your Highness

I am pleased to extend warm greetings and sincere good wishes to Your Highness, the Government and the brotherly people of the United Arab Emirates, on the momentous occasion of the 48th National Day of the United Arab Emirates.

On this happy occasion, I join the Emirati people to pay my respect to the founding father of the United Arab Emirates, late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, whose leadership and vision ushered in a new era of progress and prosperity in the United Arab Emirates. 

May I also avail myself of this opportunity to assure Your Highness of my earnest desire to work closely with the Government of the United Arab Emirates to further reinvigorate and deepen the long-standing bilateral relationship between our two countries in the years ahead. 

Please accept, Your Highness, my personal best wishes for your good health and happiness, as well as for the continued prosperity of the people of the United Arab Emirates, and the assurances of my highest esteem.”

The Maldives and UAE established diplomatic ties on 15 March 1978.