United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s surprise visit to India appears to have shaken South Asian geopolitical dynamics, indirectly affecting Pakistan. Shortly after Sheikh Nahyan’s three-hour trip, Abu Dhabi scrapped its plan to operate Islamabad International Airport—a deal that had been under discussion since August 2025.
The move was reported by Pakistani publication The Express Tribune, which noted that the UAE lost interest in the project and failed to identify a local partner to manage operations. Pakistani media did not link the deal’s collapse to political reasons, but it comes amid a growing rift between the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Once close Gulf allies, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are now publicly at odds over support for rival groups in Yemen.
While Islamabad has forged a defence partnership with Riyadh and is pursuing what has been described as an “Islamic NATO” with Saudi Arabia and Turkey, the UAE has deepened its defence ties with India.
Pak-UAE Relations
Nearly four decades ago, the UAE was one of Pakistan’s largest trading partners and a major source of remittances, employing thousands of Pakistanis across various sectors. The two nations collaborated on defence, energy, and investment projects. However, over the years, relations have been strained by safety concerns, licensing issues, and aging infrastructure in Pakistan.
A recent report highlighted mismanagement and political interference in Pakistan’s state-owned enterprises, leading to heavy losses and eventual distress sales, including last year’s privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). Despite the UAE’s experience managing airports in challenging environments—including Afghanistan—its withdrawal from Islamabad Airport signals a decline in confidence.
Growing India-UAE Ties
Following his Delhi visit last week, the UAE President approved the release of 900 Indian prisoners—a gesture seen as goodwill towards New Delhi. During talks with Prime Minister Modi, both leaders reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation and agreed that the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is entering a more ambitious and multidimensional phase.
A joint statement outlined a long-term blueprint for geopolitical and geo-economic alignment. A key outcome was the move toward a full-fledged Strategic Defence Partnership, with a Letter of Intent signed to pave the way for a Framework Agreement on Defence Cooperation.(Agencies)
