S'pore & UAE can build on each other's strengths: PM Wong

Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong called his official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) "an opportunity" to strengthen ties between Singapore and the UAE "amid growing global uncertainty".

In Facebook posts on Oct. 21, he added that it is also an opportunity to "explore new areas of cooperation".

"The UAE is a longstanding partner of Singapore," said PM Wong, who arrived in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 20 for his first official visit to the UAE as Prime Minister.

He is doing so the invitation of Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the UAE.

Prepare for future

On Oct. 21, PM Wong said he was glad to catch up with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whom he had previously hosted in Singapore in 2024.

Both had met again on the sidelines of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 2025, he noted, adding that it was good to reconnect in Abu Dhabi.

"We exchanged views on how our countries can prepare for the future, while staying rooted in our heritage and values, and keeping the well-being of our people at the heart of what we do," said PM Wong.

Areas of interest in both countries

PM Wong's visit also marked a fruitful discussion with UAE business leaders, hosted by Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Abu Dhabi’s Executive Affairs Authority and Group CEO of Mubadala.

He noted that the UAE has "considerable strengths in energy — not just oil and gas, but also renewables and nuclear power".

"It is also investing heavily in new capabilities, particularly in AI and defence technologies," he said.

PM Wong pointed out that "these are areas of interest to Singapore too, and there is much scope for us to deepen cooperation".

"Beyond government-to-government partnerships, we can do more to connect our businesses and investors, explore new opportunities, and build on each other's strengths," he said,

He added: "We share many priorities, and there is much we can learn from each other's experiences and approaches."

"I look forward to building on our friendship and deepening our cooperation in the years ahead!"

Official visits

This is part of PM Wong's official visits to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Oct. 18 to 22.

He had earlier visited Qatar from Oct. 18 to 20, where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) announced in an Oct. 19 statement that Singapore and Qatar plan to upgrade their bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership.

Both countries had agreed to work towards elevating relations in a meeting on the same day with both countries' ministers and senior officials in attendance.