ABU DHABI, 13th May, 2022 (WAM) -- Under the rule of late His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE has buttressed up its position and proactive role on the regional and international scene, forging robust relations with the outer world on the basis of mutual respect and unwavering commitment to resolving global disputes through diplomacy.

The prudent leadership of the late Sheikh Khalifa contributed to advancing the stature of the UAE as a regional cornerstone for achieving security and stability and promoting peaceful coexistence.

The late president had his thoughtful vision for the Arab Gulf as a strategic region whose security and stability are fundamental to the security and stability of the world.

Under his leadership, UAE continued its significant role in deepening ties of cooperation between GCC states and their peoples, and effectively contributed to the sustainable development drives adopted by the region.

In so doing, the late Sheikh Khalifa was keen on following in the footsteps of the UAE Founding Fathers, consolidating bridges of cooperation with all Arab nations across all fronts.

During the past years, in which many Arab countries faced major challenges, the UAE contributed to maintaining Arab security, providing all possible means of support for defending Arab causes.

During the global health crisis, triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the UAE has been unswervingly standing by Arab nations in addressing the repercussions through the dispatch of medical supplies, food and other humanitarian aid and services.

Under late Sheikh Khalifa, the UAE forged strategic partnerships with emerging economic powers like China, India and South Korea, while continuing to powerhouses led by the United States and Russia. It also continued to strengthen cooperation relations with the European Union members, notably France, Britain, Germany and other influential international powers.

Thanks to his wise policy, the UAE has maintained constructive diplomatic relations with about 200 countries around the world, with the Emirates now hosting around 110 foreign embassies and 75 consulates on its soil. Today, the UAE passport ranked on the list of the world's top 20 most powerful passports in the first quarter of 2022. The UAE passport ranked 15 this year and 16th in 2021 with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 173. In 2020, the UAE passport was ranked 18th. UAE passport holders can now enter 175 destinations around the world visa-free.

Thanks to his leadership, the UAE established partnership ties with various international organisations and institutions, and played a prominent role in enabling these entities to carry out their responsibilities, foremost of which is maintaining international security and stability, promoting the language of tolerance and dialogue among peoples, and strengthening response to emergency humanitarian situations.

Recently, the UAE won for the second time in its history a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for the period 2022-2023. In addition, UAE won membership on the UN Human Rights Council for the 2022-2024 term during elections that took place among members of the United Nations General Assembly, continuing its efforts to promote and protect human rights on national, regional, and international levels The United Arab Emirates has cooperation agreements with more than 28 international organisations of the United Nations, which carry out about 80 advisory and technical missions on the Emirati soil .

At the humanitarian level, UAE under late Sheikh Khalifa forged ahead with providing foreign aid to various countries around the world with the aim of reducing poverty and helping countries and societies in need, as well as promoting peace, prosperity and stability, and stimulating economic growth in developing countries. Since establishment until mid-2021, the UAE provided more than AED320 billion in in foreign aid to about 155 countries across the globe.