The author presents Pakistan–UAE ties since 1971 as a long friendship now being recast as a strategic partnership spanning defense, trade, investment, technology, food security, and labor—backed by about 2.2 million Pakistanis in the UAE and large remittances.

Economic plans cited include the June 2025 Joint Ministerial Commission, a possible Comprehensive Economic Partnership, UAE capital in Pakistani IT and minerals (e.g. Reko Diq), and agri-value chains matching Pakistan’s harvests with the UAE’s food-security needs.

Defense and security would move from training and exercises toward cyber, AI, space, and possible co-production, plus intelligence against terrorism finance and online networks, while both states favor dialogue over regional polarization.

Pakistan-UAE relations can be seen as a unique case of one of the oldest relations in the region based on common values, mutual respect and trust among the leadership and people of both states that developed in more than half a century of relations. Having become one of the first countries to recognize the United Arab Emirates since the latter’s independence in 1971, Pakistan-UAE relations progressed much further than traditional diplomacy, covering areas such as defense, security, trade, investment, technology, food security, manpower and stability in the region, thus providing the base for developing a strategic partnership.

The history of the development of the relations goes hand-in-hand with the development process of the country itself. The contribution of Pakistani military personnel, engineers, educators, professionals and skilled labor to the formation of early Emirati structures was very valuable, with Pakistani military, aviation, educational, administrative and engineering personnel contributing to the formation of the UAE along with providing training to the newly established institutions of the country.

Defence and security still constitute important areas of........

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