King Mohammed VI, UAE President sign declaration for innovative, renewed and solid bilateral partnership 

King Mohammed VI and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates signed on Monday in Abu Dhabi, the declaration “Towards an innovative, renewed and solid partnership between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United Arab Emirates,” which aims to advance bilateral relations and cooperation between the two nations.

The following is the text of this announcement:

“At the kind invitation of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, paid a working and fraternal visit to the United Arab Emirates, between December 4 and 5, 2023.

This auspicious visit comes to confirm the deep ties between the two brotherly countries, the foundations of which were established by the late, God Almighty, His Majesty King Hassan II and His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (may God rest their souls), and which strengthen and elevate the bonds of true brotherhood and sincere love between them. The leaders of the two countries, His Majesty King Mohammed VI and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, may God protect them.

During their bilateral discussions, which were characterized by complete trust and complete harmony in visions about the opportunities and possibilities of integration and practical cooperation between the two countries within the framework of mutual cooperation and solidarity, the two leaders renewed their firm and urgent determination to advance the relations between the two countries and joint cooperation to broader horizons, through effective economic partnerships that serve the interests. The joint Supreme Council aims to bring development and well-being to the two brotherly peoples.

They stressed the ambition of the two brotherly countries to establish pioneering joint strategic economic partnerships at the level of regional and international markets, especially with the African space.

– Based on the balance of bilateral relations and the success of the UAE investment experience in Morocco, and in support of the economic and social development program for the years 2024-2029 and keeping pace with the development of the legislative and regulatory structure that guarantees promising investment opportunities and an attractive business climate, the leaders of the two countries, may God protect them, decided the intention on the basis of the agreements recorded in this Announcement: Working to establish an innovative, renewed and solid partnership between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.

First: Objectives and principles:

1. The partnership aims to:

A – Working to translate the integration between the two countries into qualitative cooperation and sustainable investment, to advance their bilateral economic, trade, investment and industrial relations to the level of their deep political and popular ties, in order to serve the goals of common development and prosperity.

B – Establishing a comprehensive and balanced economic and investment cooperation model that is open to the private sector and brings benefit and development to everyone.

C – Activating practical and tangible cooperation, through structured projects that respond to the interests of both parties, especially in the socio-economic sectors, infrastructure, transportation, drinking water, agricultural sector development, energy, tourism, real estate projects, and in the fields of training and employment.

2- The two parties base their cooperation on the following principles:

A – Giving a strong and renewed impetus to the partnership, economic and investment development of the two countries, in accordance with their legislation in force, as well as their international obligations and pledges.

B – Bringing in the higher interests and common concerns of both parties, and valuing mutual trust to achieve tangible cooperation that serves development and mutual interests in accordance with the principle of shared profit.

C – Activating practical and innovative cooperation models in accordance with common understanding, to support and implement specific projects and provide financial support for them through mobilizing funds, partnerships between the public sector and the private sector, and investment capital.

Second: Elements of partnership and cooperation:

The two parties will work in accordance with a common understanding to give priority to the following areas:

1- Exploring investment opportunities in projects in the field of infrastructure:

A – Extension of railway lines, including in particular and priority the Kenitra-Marrakesh high-speed train.

B- Developing airports, including Casablanca, Marrakesh, Dakhla Hub, and Nador airports.
C – Preparing ports and investing in their management, especially the port of Nador/Western Mediterranean, and the Atlantic port of Dakhla.

D- Any related projects, the feasibility of which the two parties later agree on.

2- Exploring investment opportunities in the water, energy and sustainable development sectors:
A – Water diversion projects and the construction of dams directed to drinking water and agriculture, and current and future hydroelectric dams.
B – Renewable energies and the production of green hydrogen and its derivatives.
C – Energy transmission, especially the construction and exploitation of electricity transmission lines.
D – Any related projects, the feasibility of which the two parties later agree on.

3 – Discussing opportunities for strategic cooperation in the field of food security, by exploring the possibilities of partnership with the Office Chérifien des Phosphates in the field of fertilizers.

4 – Discussing the development of joint projects in the tourism and real estate fields, especially on the Mediterranean coast and in the Dakhla and Tarfaya regions.

5 – Discussing development cooperation and the possibilities of implementing socio-economic projects:
A – Opportunities to contribute to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of areas affected by the Al Haouz earthquake;
B – Exploring the completion and financing of projects in the field of establishing educational, university and health institutions,
C – Study the implementation and financing of projects in the field of communications and the digital economy;
D – Discussing other projects with an economic dimension and cooperation within the framework of a partnership between the public and private sectors.

6 – Exploring the possibilities of cooperation in the field of industry, agriculture and food industries, and encouraging the contribution of these sectors to improving economic and trade relations;

7 – Studying opportunities and possibilities for cooperation in the financial field and capital markets,

8- Discussing cooperation and exploring horizons in partnership between the sovereign and investment funds of both countries.

9 – Studying the possibilities of cooperation in the field of economic partnership and infrastructure and energy development in African countries in accordance with the legal and legislative systems, especially with regard to:

A – The African-Atlantic Gas Pipeline Project;
B – Preparation and development of the integrated project for Dakhla “Dakhla Gateway to Africa”
C – Creating and managing a commercial marine fleet.

10 – Any related projects, the two parties will later agree on their feasibility.

Third: Memorandums of understanding

The two parties will work through the relevant institutions to study the strategic projects in this announcement, and the projects referred to above and others will be the subject of special memorandums of understanding for a joint understanding that achieves the desires and goals of the two parties, and determines the project specifications, forms of financing, and the time space required for its implementation, as well as the obligations of all parties contributing to it. These memorandums will be studied and concluded within a period not exceeding 3 months from the date of this announcement.

Fourth: Financing the investments stipulated in the announcement

1 – The two parties will work on joint agreement on project financing methods in accordance with the visions specified between the two parties, with their potential partners when necessary.

2 – The two parties agree that these investment financings will be a combination of:

A – Capital;
B – Facilitating loans;
C – Competitive commercial loans;
D – Innovative financing tools;
E- Gifts.

Fifth: Implementation and follow-up mechanisms

1 – The two parties shall establish, through a special memorandum of understanding, a mechanism for implementing and tracking the projects that will be programmed in accordance with the requirements of this declaration.

2 – This mechanism consists of representatives of both parties, and its composition is determined by them, as needed.

3 – This mechanism meets in a formation agreed upon between the two parties, on a regular basis, alternately in Morocco and the United Arab Emirates, and submits its reports to the competent authorities.”