Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, discussed ways to strengthen fraternal ties between the two countries, and the overall regional and international issues of common concern.
This came when King Salman received Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and his accompanying delegation Monday at the Peace Palace in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
They reviewed the close brotherly relations between the two brotherly countries and aspects of bilateral cooperation in various fields, in addition to the latest developments at the regional and international arenas, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
During the meeting, Saudi Arabia and the UAE signed an agreement to establish a coordination council between the two countries, UAE national news agency WAM reported.
The signing ceremony for setting up the Saudi-UAE Coordination Council, which was held Monday at the Peace Palace in Jeddah, was attended by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The move is based on shared religious, historical, social and cultural ties between the UAE and Saudi Arabia and their membership in the Gulf Cooperation Council for the Arab States, and out of keenness to consolidate the fraternal relations between them, and their desire to intensify bilateral co-operation through continuous consultation and co-ordination in many areas.
It also follows the directives of UAE’s President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and his brother the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.
The council is co-headed by H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Crown Prince, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with a number of ministers and officials in the two countries as members.
The agreement was signed by Dr. Nizar Madani, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, and Ali bin Hammad Al Shamsi, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Security Council.
The council aims at consultation and co-ordination in matters and issues of common interest in all fields.
The agreement states that the council will meet periodically and alternately between the two countries. The chairman of the coordination council can establish joint committees and name members when the need arises. The joint committees formed by the council will hold periodic and alternate meetings between the two countries.
It emphasizes that the establishment of the coordination council and tasks entrusted to it do not affect the obligations among the GCC states.
Among others present at the signing ceremony were His Royal Highness Prince Khalid al-Faisal, Adviser to the King of Saudi Arabia, Governor of Makkah Province; His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister of Saudi Arabia; Mohammed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, the Under-Secretary of the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi; Mohamed Saeed Mohamed Al Dhahiri, UAE Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and a number of princes and officials.
