Why Pakistan And UAE Need Each Other More Than Ever? – OpEd
The author roots Pakistan–UAE ties in people and defence, not ceremony: Pakistanis in the Emirates’ early buildup; 115 Pakistani officers with the Abu Dhabi Defence Force in April 1974; a later defence pact. Next fields named: cyber, AI, space, electronic warfare, aviation, and joint production.
The gap is scale. UAE figures put 2024 non-oil trade above $8.6 billion. Pakistan’s FO: about 2.2 million citizens in the UAE; trade and remittances each near $8 billion. A CEPA was reported near completion in January 2026. The author wants Emirati capital in infrastructure, manufacturing, and tech, plus pairing UAE networks with Pakistan’s 2.3 million-plus freelancers and farm output (wheat, rice, dates).
Minerals such as Reko Diq need realism. A 2026 UN monitor tied more TTP attacks on Pakistan to greater room in Afghanistan; finance and online facilitation matter as much as fighters. Use FATF tools and complementary security skills. Study India–Israel defence tech without default confrontation. Sheikh Zayed’s line that wealth is people closes the pitch.
Diplomatic ties between Pakistan and UAE do not give the true picture of their relationship. It is based on trust in God, trust in people, trust in leadership, trust in trading and trust based on years of human interaction. Early engagement soon moved beyond ceremony. Pakistani teachers, engineers, administrators, military officers, professionals, and workers became part of the UAE’s formative development, while Emirati support became an important element in Pakistan’s economic and development story.
The defence connection gave this friendship unusual institutional depth. The history of the Abu........
