A high-level UAE delegation led by Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, has concluded a successful official visit to the Kingdom of Belgium aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy, water, and sustainability.
During the visit, discussions highlighted the UAE’s commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships that promote energy security, accelerate the clean energy transition, and support the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
As part of the visit, Abdulla Balalaa toured the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, accompanied by Johan Klaps, Chairman of the port authority.
The visit also included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Khalifa University (KU) and the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), a leading sustainability research institute in Flanders, to enhance joint research and innovation for the transition to a sustainable future.
Furthermore, the visit featured a high-level reception that brought together senior Belgian and Emirati stakeholders from government, business, and academia. The event provided a platform to highlight opportunities for UAE–Belgium collaboration and to reinforce bilateral ties across energy, water, and sustainability sectors.
UAE-Belgium Visit Highlights Shared Vision for Sustainable Economic Growth
Commenting on the visit, Abdulla Balalaa stated that, “This visit reflects the UAE’s unwavering commitment to strengthening ties with Belgium and working together on areas of shared strategic interest, including nuclear and renewable energy, water, and innovation.”
“The cooperation between our institutions demonstrates our collective determination to translate dialogue into action and build long-term partnerships that benefit both countries and contribute to sustainability goals and global economic growth,” Balalaa added.
According to the statement, the visit reaffirmed the UAE’s role as a trusted international partner in advancing the global energy transition and laid the foundation for long-term institutional, scientific, and commercial collaboration with Belgium. The UAE delegation included senior representatives from Masdar, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), and Khalifa University.
