UAE, Bahrain explore deeper cooperation on infrastructure

Gulf Today

21-05-2025

Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, UAE's Minister of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI), received Dr. Shaikh Abdulla Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Bahrain's Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications.
The visit is in line with the two countries' commitment to strengthening synergies across the board and contributing to regional socio-economic development.
The two ministers explored ways to implement the joint MoU in transport, which aims to exchange technical and administrative experiences, join forces in national workforce training and capacity building, and drive joint projects in sustainable mobility, autonomous driving, and digital transformation.
Furthermore, the two ministers discussed cooperation opportunities in developing the infrastructure for ports and logistics services, with the aim of improving ports' competitiveness and keeping pace with global trends in maritime transport.
Al Mazrouei said, 'During the meeting, we focused on exploring ways to strengthen ties between the two countries and build a partnership model based on knowledge and expertise exchange, as well as the development of joint projects that contribute to achieving the strategic goals of the region. This meeting was an ideal opportunity for building advanced partnerships in the fields of transport, legislation, and infrastructure-contributing to a shared vision for a more interconnected and sustainable future.'
Al Mazrouei praised the depth and strength of the relations between the UAE and the Kingdom of Bahrain, affirming that this historic relationship forms a fundamental pillar for enhancing strategic partnerships across various sectors and fulfilling the aspirations of the leaderships of both countries toward developmental integration that serves mutual interests.
Dr. Al Khalifa said, 'Bahrain has an ambitious strategy to develop an integrated and sustainable transport ecosystem that serves maritime, air, and land transport, in line with the aspirations of the government and the Bahrain's Vision 2030. Investment in capabilities is essential. We look forward to benefiting from the UAE's successful experiences across the board.'
Eng. Hassan Mohammed Al Mansouri, Undersecretary of Infrastructure and Transport Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, and Hessa Al Malek, Advisor to the Minister for Maritime Transport Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, attended the meeting.
Meanwhile the UAE, represented by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI), participated in the BRICS Transport Ministers' Meeting held in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil.
Sheikh Nasser Al Qasimi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Infrastructure Regulation Sector at MoEI, delivered the UAE's address during the ministerial session. In his speech, he highlighted the UAE's key achievements in the fields of sustainable transport and smart infrastructure, affirming the country's commitment to a forward-looking vision based on data-driven policies and innovation. He also emphasized the importance of multilateral cooperation in addressing global challenges in the transport sector.
He affirmed the UAE's continued efforts to develop an integrated and sustainable infrastructure, referring to the 'Etihad Rail' project, which spans 1,200 kilometers across the country.
The project aims to transport more than 60 million tonnes of freight and 36.5 million passengers annually by 2030, contributing to a reduction of approximately 8.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.