M Mirror Desk: Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus expressed gratitude to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday for its efforts to relax visa restrictions for Bangladeshi citizens. He also welcomed the UAE’s interest in investing in various sectors within Bangladesh.

These remarks were made during a high-level meeting at the State Guest House Jamuna, where Professor Yunus hosted Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mubarak Al Nahayan, the UAE Cabinet Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence.

The UAE delegation, which included senior officials, arrived in Dhaka earlier that day and was welcomed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by Lutfey Siddiqi, Special Envoy to the Chief Adviser. Notable members of the visiting delegation included Ahmed Bin Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and Mohammed Abdul Rahman Al Hawi, Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Investment. Sheikh Nahayan emphasized during the discussions, “We are here under the directive of our President to showcase the strength of our relationship and our mutual commitment to cooperation.

Our countries have been enhancing their engagement recently, and we are dedicated to continuing our support in areas such as economic investment and visa facilitation.” Professor Yunus conveyed optimism regarding the strengthening bilateral ties and acknowledged the UAE’s recent initiatives to reopen visa channels.

He stated, “We appreciate the developing partnership and encourage investments in diverse industries. The decision to resume visa services is praiseworthy, and we anticipate addressing the remaining challenges through ongoing dialogue.” Recent updates include the reinstatement of 30 to 50 visit visas daily, expedited business visa approvals, and the reactivation of the online portal for skilled labor recruitment by the UAE Ministry of Human Resources. Industries such as marketing, hospitality, and security have already seen benefits, with 500 visas issued for security personnel and an additional 1,000 expected soon.

The meeting was graced by the presence of Abdullah Ali Al Hmoudi, the UAE Ambassador to Bangladesh, alongside Tareq Ahmed, the Bangladesh Ambassador to the UAE. The delegation wrapped up its visit soon after the discussions.