Sheikh Khaled Visits Canada to Strengthen Trade and Investment Ties

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, has arrived in Ottawa for an official visit aimed at strengthening economic, investment and strategic cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and Canada.

The visit brings together senior officials from both countries to explore opportunities in trade, energy, advanced technology and investment. Sheikh Khaled was welcomed at Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport by Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand.

During the visit, the Crown Prince is scheduled to meet Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to discuss shared priorities and ways to expand bilateral economic relations.

Senior UAE Delegation Highlights Strategic Priorities

Sheikh Khaled is accompanied by a high-level UAE delegation representing government, industry, investment, diplomacy and security.

The delegation includes:

• Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court.
• Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Group CEO of ADNOC.
• Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation.
• Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade.
• Mohammed Hassan Al Suwaidi, Minister of Investment.
• Mohammed bin Mubarak bin Fadhel Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Defence Affairs.
• Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to Canada and Chairman of Dubai Chambers.
• Ghanem Sultan Al Suwaidi, Security Affairs Advisor at the Crown Prince’s Court.
• Saif Saeed Ghobash, Secretary General of Abu Dhabi’s Executive Council and Head of the Crown Prince’s Office.
• Mariam Eid Al Mheiri, Head of the Abu Dhabi Media Office and Strategic Relations Advisor.
• Abdulrahman Ali Al Mur Al Neyadi, UAE Ambassador to Canada.
• Hamad Salem Al Ketbi, Director General of Protocol at the Crown Prince’s Court.

The breadth of the delegation underscores the UAE’s focus on translating diplomatic engagement into commercial opportunities and long-term partnerships.

UAE-Canada Trade Relations Gain Momentum

The visit comes amid efforts to deepen bilateral economic ties following the conclusion of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

The proposed agreement is intended to reduce trade barriers, improve market access and support supply-chain cooperation. It builds on existing economic arrangements, including the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA).

Bilateral merchandise trade reached approximately C$3.5 billion in 2025, equivalent to around US$2.5 billion, according to figures cited in the original report. Canadian merchandise exports to the UAE accounted for approximately C$2.84 billion, or US$2.05 billion.

The UAE is also Canada’s leading merchandise export destination in the Middle East, making it an important regional market for Canadian businesses.

Energy, Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Manufacturing in Focus

Several sectors are expected to feature prominently in discussions between the two countries, including clean energy, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and commercial services.

For the UAE, deeper cooperation with Canada could support industrial diversification, technology adoption and access to new international markets. Canadian businesses, meanwhile, could gain opportunities to expand their presence in the Gulf and participate in projects involving energy, infrastructure and emerging technologies.

The presence of senior officials responsible for industry, trade and investment highlights the potential for government-level discussions to lead to practical commercial agreements.

Investment Partnerships Could Shape the Next Phase

The UAE has placed economic diversification and international investment at the centre of its long-term development strategy. Strengthening ties with Canada could help advance these priorities through investment partnerships, technology collaboration and expanded private-sector engagement.

The Ottawa meetings are expected to build on existing commercial relationships and identify areas where businesses in both countries can develop new projects.

As the UAE and Canada pursue broader economic cooperation, the outcome of the visit could help establish a framework for future investment and trade growth across key strategic industries