Abu Dhabi hosted a key bilateral meeting that has the potential to shift the focus of investment geography in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received His Excellency Prabowo Subianto, the newly elected President of the Republic of Indonesia, at the Qasr Al Shati residence, to discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in key sectors, Sheikh Mohamed has reported. The visit came against the backdrop of the UAE’s growing role in the global energy transformation, as well as deepening ties with the G20 countries, which Indonesia recently joined as a full-fledged player.
The discussion focused on long-term vectors of cooperation in areas such as the economy, direct investment presence, clean energy, sustainable infrastructure, agro-security and technology partnerships. Both leaders stressed their shared commitment to building an innovation-driven partnership that will contribute to regional growth and global stability. The talks were also attended by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Presidential Court, one of the UAE’s key economic policy strategists.
Strengthening UAE-Indonesia Relations
During President Subianto’s visit, the two sides focused not only on economic cooperation but also on global issues that require a coordinated approach – security, food security, investment in new technologies. The leaders of both countries reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful conflict resolution, human resource development and infrastructure modernization – an approach that has shaped the UAE’s new foreign policy doctrine in recent years.
The focus is on the signing of memorandums of understanding and multi-sectoral agreements between the UAE and Indonesia. These documents cover the economy, financial investments, green economy, combating climate challenges, ensuring food independence, hydrogen and solar energy, as well as contractual frameworks for cooperation in the fields of security, Islamic affairs and humanitarian policy. This confirms the depth of trust and the high dynamics of interstate contacts.
For Indonesia, which is rapidly modernizing its industry and attracting large-scale investments in capital infrastructure, such cooperation with the UAE is critically important. For its part, the Emirates sees Indonesia as a gateway to ASEAN markets with a combined GDP of over $3 trillion, where oil and gas, energy and agro-industrial initiatives can be scaled up.
Meeting participants
The meeting was attended by the UAE’s highest political and economic echelons, reflecting the importance Abu Dhabi attaches to this partnership. Key participants included:
- Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs;
- Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Advisor to the President of the UAE;
- Suhail bin Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure;
- Mohamed Hassan Al Suwaidi, Minister of Investment;
- Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State;
- Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority;
- Abdulla Salem Al Dhaheri, UAE Ambassador to Indonesia;
- Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Eagle Hills Abu Dhabi, a company behind a number of mega projects in the real estate and urban infrastructure sectors.
The Indonesian presidential delegation, which included high-ranking government officials and advisors on foreign economic issues, also participated in the negotiations. The presence of such personalities signals the readiness of both sides for strategic, rather than situational, interaction. And if the UAE continues to construct its own geoeconomic architecture, then Indonesia, with its 270 million population and the project of the new capital Nusantara, becomes an ideal partner for the Emirates for long-term investments in energy, technology, urban planning and new generation infrastructure.