Strengthening Afghan-Emirati Cooperation through Urban Development

Remarks at the Inauguration Ceremony of the Emirates Housing Complex (Phase I)

Keypoints:

• Completing Projects: Prioritizing inherited, unfinished housing developments.
• Afghan-Emirati Brotherhood: Celebrating strong bilateral ties for national growth.
• Honoring Sacrifice: Paying tribute to UAE diplomats lost in Kandahar.
• The UAE Model: Learning from Emirates’ management and vision.
• Housing Goals: Making modern housing a top government priority.
• Institutional Success: Ministry of Urban Development achieving full project delivery.
• Economic Shift: Moving from aid-dependency to private sector collaboration.
• Expanding Partnerships: Using ADFD to broaden joint economic ventures.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Your Excellency Mr. Al Suwaidi, the esteemed Director General of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the esteemed Ambassador of the Emirates to Afghanistan and your accompanying delegation, Honorable Minister of Urban Development, Honorable Ambassador Zakaria, and all those present in the gathering, peace and blessings of Allah be upon you all! Today is a day of joy as, through the close cooperation between two brotherly countries—the United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan—the people of Afghanistan are witnessing a clear and specific change in their lives. I congratulate all those who have been waiting for this day. May your homes be blessed; may you live in them with happiness and goodness.

The Strategy of Housing and Project Completion

Providing housing is one of the primary objectives of the National Unity Government, and I thank Mr. Naderi and his colleagues for their excellent management in completing these unfinished projects. It is far easier to start from zero and complete a project than it is to take over a project that is thirty percent finished and bring it to completion. I also express my gratitude to Mr. Al Suwaidi, his colleagues, and especially our colleagues at the Embassy of the Emirates in Afghanistan.

Tribute to the Martyrs of Diplomacy

While this is a day of happiness, it is also necessary to remember the martyrs of the Emirates, especially the esteemed Ambassador Al Kaabi. The high-ranking delegation of the Emirates was in Kandahar with the sole purpose of helping the people of Afghanistan. In a cowardly terrorist attack, not only were skilled diplomats of that country martyred, but also one of their finest ambassadors. Mr. Al Suwaidi! Our request to you and your colleagues is to convey the condolences and gratitude of the Afghan people to their families. I had the honor, on behalf of the Afghan nation, to visit the homes of the absolute majority of these individuals and offer my condolences personally. On that day, I truly understood the depth of mutual affection and love between Afghanistan and the Emirates; the reception we received and the acceptance of our condolences showed us the high character of the people of the Emirates and how firmly they stand by their Islamic principles.

Messages to the Emirati Leadership

At the same time, I would like you to convey our message of love and gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Khalifa, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, His Excellency Sheikh Mansour, Sheikh Saif, Sheikh Abdullah, and the esteemed family of the Emirates, who have always treated me as a brother. The successful experience of the Emirates is an example that, while the Islamic world is currently in difficult circumstances, by the grace of Allah (SWT), the experience of the Emirates serves as a positive model for how to transform. When management, vision, and will exist, they can bring about significant change.

Economic Reform and Future Cooperation

Other points include that with the changing economic conditions and the reforms that have taken place, it is hoped that in the future we can bring the private sector of the Emirates together with the private sector and the government of Afghanistan in an atmosphere of cooperation. I specifically express my gratitude to Mr. Al Suwaidi because, from the day they took responsibility for the Emirates aid fund, this fund has achieved success after success. Very useful discussions took place between us last week on how to expand our cooperation and, God willing, develop other areas of common interest.

Closing Gratitude and Blessings

Once again on this day, I especially thank Mr. Al Suwaidi and his colleagues for visiting their brotherly country and coming to Kabul. Please convey the gratitude of the entire Afghan nation to the Royal Family and the people of the Emirates. We hope our cooperation becomes broader, deeper, and more extensive day by day. May God always protect you; may you live in honor and respect!

Endnotes: ¹ Director General of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD). ² Ambassador of Afghanistan to the UAE. ³ In the terrorist attack on the Kandahar Provincial Guest House on January 10, 2017 (21 Jadi 1395), several diplomats, including UAE Ambassador Mohammed Abdullah Al Kaabi, were wounded. The UAE Ambassador passed away approximately one month after the incident.