Dili, March 18 (AseanAll)  — The President of the Republic of Timor-Leste, J. Ramos-Horta held a productive meeting with the Non-Residence Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Timor-Leste Abdulla Salem AlDhaheri and the Counselor Shaima Salem of the UAE Embassy in Timor-Leste at the Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace, on March 18, 2026. 

The discussions centered on pressing regional security concerns in the Middle East, with the President expressing his solidarity with the United Arab Emirates and other affected nations. The Head of State reaffirmed Timor-Leste’s commitment to peace and indicated his intent to leverage his international standing and connections with fellow Nobel laureates to advocate for de-escalation and the return of stability to the region.

A major highlight of the diplomatic visit was the advancement of a significant UAE-funded grant to construct a state-of-the-art accommodation facility for female students. Located in the vicinity of the Presidential Palace, the project will provide 500 rooms of high-quality housing and is expected to be completed by May 2027. Technical directors are currently on-site to evaluate the grounds, ensuring that the project remains on track to support the educational needs of Timorese youth.

Looking forward, both parties explored expanding bilateral cooperation into the economic, tourism, and health sectors. A specialized delegation from the UAE is scheduled to visit Timor-Leste in April to further define these partnerships and identify new opportunities for investment. The UAE expressed their appreciation for the warm relationship between the two nations, emphasizing a shared commitment to making the partnership even stronger in the years ahead.