Update in the first paragraph at the source's request

ABU DHABI, 9th May, 2025 (WAM) -- The United Arab Emirates and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan held the first round of joint consular consultations today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Abu Dhabi, in the presence of senior officials from both Ministries. The meeting comes as part of ongoing efforts to enhance consular cooperation and improve the quality of services provided to citizens of both countries.

The UAE delegation was headed by Omar Obaid AlHesan AlShamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, while the Jordanian side was led by Ambassador Majid Al-Qatarneh, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan.

At the opening of the session, AlShamsi welcomed the Jordanian delegation and conveyed the greetings of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, along with his wishes for a successful and productive dialogue. He emphasised the deep-rooted ties between the UAE and Jordan, built on a foundation of mutual understanding and shared values laid down by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the late King Hussein bin Talal.

These relations, he noted, continue to flourish under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, advancing toward a comprehensive strategic partnership.

AlShamsi underlined that this inaugural round of consultations represents a significant step in institutionalising consular cooperation and strengthening mechanisms for joint action, ensuring responsiveness to the needs of citizens and enabling the exchange of best practices to enhance service delivery.

As part of the visit, the Jordanian delegation toured the Ministry's Operations Center and reviewed the UAE's emergency preparedness protocols, crisis response mechanisms, and coordination frameworks. The visit showcased the Ministry's high institutional readiness and its commitment to international standards in managing emergency scenarios.

For his part, Ambassador Al-Qatarneh commended the UAE's efforts in providing high-quality consular services and expressed appreciation for the support extended to Jordanian citizens. He reaffirmed Jordan's commitment to advancing joint cooperation and underlined the importance of sustained engagement and knowledge exchange in the consular domain.