[ENG-TET]
PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT J. RAMOS-HORTA WELCOMES HIGH-LEVEL UAE DELEGATION
DILI, 31 August 2026
The President of the Republic and Nobel Peace Laureate, J. Ramos-Horta, today received Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, for an official meeting at the Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace.
The meeting marks the first high-level visit from the UAE to Timor-Leste, underscoring the growing partnership and friendship between the two nations.
The visit follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in May 2026 for the “Female Students Housing and Social Facilities Project,” a UAE supported initiative to build a modern residential complex for approximately 300 female university students in Dili. The project is designed to provide safe, dignified accommodation featuring 100% solar energy, rain water storage and waste water recycling.
The meeting was attended by senior Timorese officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, H.E. Mr. Bendito dos Santos Freitas; Vice Minister H.E. Mrs. Jesuina Gomes; and other key advisors. Her Excellency Al Kaabi was accompanied by UAE Ambassador Abdulla Salem Aldhaheri.
During the meeting, President Ramos-Horta expressed his gratitude for the UAE’s support and reaffirmed his commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations.
President Ramos-Horta stated:
“Today’s visit by Her Excellency Minister Al Kaabi is a testament to the warm and growing friendship between Timor-Leste and the United Arab Emirates. I extend my gratitude to my dear friend, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for the UAE’s support for the education of Timorese women. The Girls’ Hostel project is far more than the construction of a building, it is the materialization of a promise that every young woman, regardless of her social background, will have access to education, dignity, and the opportunity to build her future. We look forward to deepening our cooperation across all areas of shared interest and welcome the UAE’s plan to establish its future embassy in Dili as a significant milestone in strengthening our bilateral relationship.“
Minister Noura Al Kaabi stated:
“I am deeply grateful to President Ramos-Horta for his warm welcome during my first visit to Timor-Leste. I express warmest Regards from our President and Vice President to President Ramos-Horta, Government and the Timorese people. Timor-Leste has proven itself a true friend of the UAE, most notably through President’s unwavering solidarity following the recent attacks on our nation. Today’s meeting has opened new avenues to further expand our cooperation across various sector that benefited both of our nation include renewable energy, economic partnerships, capacity building, and technical support for Timor-Leste’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2029. Timor-Leste is not just a partner; it is family, and we are committed to advancing this relationship with all the sincerity and warmth heart that Timorese people have so generously shown us.“
The UAE delegation also took the opportunity to inform President Ramos-Horta about the upcoming UN Water Summit, which the UAE will host at the end of this year in co-sponsorship with Senegal. UAE delegation expressed their interest in hearing the President’s vision on this pressing global issue, given his esteemed leadership and deep engagement with sustainable development challenges.
Following the meeting, President Ramos-Horta and Minister Al Kaabi proceeded to the construction site of the Female Students Residence Complex for a project presentation and a symbolic tree-planting ceremony. The project is supported by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates during President Ramos-Horta official visit to the UAE in 2023. The complex will provide safe, modern accommodation for up to 300 female university students.
The UAE Minister of State also held bilateral meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and the Minister of Finance, as well as a courtesy call with the Vice Prime Minister, before attending a friendship reception hosted by Ambassador Aldhaheri.
Timor-Leste and the UAE established diplomatic relations on 13 November 2009. The recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding for the Female Students Housing Project in May 2026 has further solidified bilateral ties.
President Ramos-Horta has regularly participated in the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity ceremonies and has commended the UAE’s commitment to peace and tolerance.
The UAE plans to establish an embassy in Dili, a step welcomed by the President as a sign of the deepening relationship.
The high-level visit of Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, and her delegation to Timor-Leste will conclude on Tuesday, 1 September 2026.
END
KOMUNIKADU IMPRENSA
PREZIDENTE J. RAMOS-HORTA SIMU DELEGASAUN ALTU NIVEL EMIRADUS ÁRABES UNIDUS NIAN
DILI, 31 Agostu 2026
Prezidente Repúblika no Laureadu Nobel ba Pás, J. Ramos-Horta, ohin simu Sua Exelénsia Noura Al Kaabi, Ministra Estadu iha Ministériu Negósiu Estranjeiru Emiradus Árabes Unidus, ba enkontru ofisiál iha Palásiu Prezidensiál Nicolau Lobato.
Enkontru ne’e marka vizita nivel aas dahuluk husi Emiradus Árabes Unidus mai Timor-Leste, hodi subliña parseria no amizade ne’ebé buras entre nasaun rua ne’e.
Vizita ne’e realiza hafoin asinatura Memorandu Entendimentu iha fulan Maiu 2026 ba “Projetu rezidensiá no Fasilidade Sosiál ba Estudante Feto sira”, inisiativa ida ne’ebé hetan apoiu husi Emiradus Árabes Unidus hodi harii kompleksu rezidensiál modernu ida ba maizumenus estudante universitáriu feto hamutuk na’in 300 iha Díli. Projetu ne’e dezeña hodi fornese akomodasaun ne’ebé seguru no dignu ho enerjia solar 100%, armazenamentu udan-been no resiklajen bee-fo’er.
Enkontru ne’e hetan partisipasaun husi ofisiál seniór Timor-Leste sira, inklui Ministru Negósiu Estranjeiru no Kooperasaun, S.E. Sr. Bendito dos Santos Freitas; Vise Ministra S.E. Sra. Jesuina Gomes; no asesór xave sira seluk. Sua Exelénsia Al Kaabi akompañadu husi Embaixadór Emiradus Árabes Unidus Abdulla Salem Aldhaheri.
Iha sorumutu ne’e, Prezidente Ramos-Horta hato’o nia agradesimentu ba apoiu EAU nian no reafirma ninia kompromisu atu hametin liután relasaun bilaterál entre nasaun rua ne’e.
Prezidente Ramos-Horta hateten:
“Vizita ohin husi Sua Exelénsia Ministra Al Kaabi nu’udar testemuña ida ba amizade ne’ebé di’ak no buras entre Timor-Leste no Emiradus Árabes Unidus. Ha’u hato’o ha’u nia agradesimentu ba ha’u nia belun, Prezidente Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ba apoiu EAU nian ba edukasaun feto Timor-oan sira nian. Projetu ba rezidensiál Estudantil Feminina la’ós de’it atu harii edifísiu ida, maibé ne’e mak realizasaun husi promesa katak kada joven feto sira, la haree ba nia background sosiál, sei iha asesu ba edukasaun, dignidade, no oportunidade atu harii nia futuru. Ami hein atu aprofunda ita-nia kooperasaun iha área hotu-hotu ne’ebé iha interese hamutuk no simu ho laran-haksolok planu EAU nian atu estabelese nia futuru embaixada iha Dili nu’udar pasu signifikativu ida hodi hametin ita-nia relasaun bilaterál.“
Ministra Noura Al Kaabi hateten:
“Ha’u agradese tebes ba Prezidente Ramos-Horta nia benvindu ne’ebé kmanek durante ha’u nia vizita dahuluk mai Timor-Leste. Hau hato’o saudasaun kmanek husi ami nia Prezidente no vise Prezidente ba President Ramos-Horta, Estadu no Povu Timor-aon. Timor-Leste nu’udar belun loloos ba Emiradus Árabes Unidus, liuliu liuhusi Prezidente Ramos-Horta nia solidariedade ne’ebé boot liu hafoin atake sira foin lalais ne’e hasoru ami-nia nasaun. Sorumutu ida-ne’e loke dalan foun sira hodi habelar liutan ita-nia kooperasaun sira iha setor oi-oin ne’ebe benefisia ba nasaun rua inklui enerjia renovável, parseria ekonómika, kapasitasaun, no apoiu tékniku ba Timor-Leste nia prezidénsia ba ASEAN iha tinan2029. Timor-Leste la’ós de’it parseiru ida, maibé hanesan família, no ami iha kompromisu atu avansa relasaun ida-ne’e ho sinseridade no laran-di’ak ne’ebé Timor-Leste hatudu ona mai ami.”
Delegasaun Emiradus Árabes Unidus mós aproveita oportunidade ida-ne’e hodi informa Prezidente Ramos-Horta kona-ba Simeira ONU nian kona-ba Bee ne’ebé sei realiza iha EAU ho ko-esponsor husi Senegal. Delegasaun EAU hato’o sira-nia interese hodi rona Prezidente nia vizaun ba asuntu globál ida-ne’e, haree ba ninia lideransa no envolvimentu kle’an ho dezafiu dezenvolvimentu sustentavel.
Hafoin enkontru, Prezidente Ramos-Horta no Ministra Al Kaabi kontinua ba fatin konstrusaun Komplexu Rezidénsia Estudante Feto nian ba aprezentasaun projetu no serimónia kuda ai-horis simbóliku. Projetu ne’e hetan apoiu hosi Sua Alteza Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Prezidente Emiradus Arabes Unidus nian durante vizita ofisiál Prezidente Ramos-Horta nian ba EAU iha tinan 2023. Komplexu ne’e sei fornese akomodasaun seguru no modernu ba estudante universitáriu feto sira to’o 300.
Ministra Estadu EAU mós hala’o enkontru bilaterál ho Ministru Negósiu Estranjeiru no Kooperasaun no Ministra Finansa, no mós vizita kortezia ho Vise Primeiru Ministru, molok tuir resepsaun amizade ne’ebé organiza husi Embaixadór Aldhaheri.
Timor-Leste no Emiradus Árabes Unidus estabelese relasaun diplomátika iha 13 Novembru 2009. Asinatura Memorandu Entendimentu foin lalais ne’e ba Projetu Rezidénsia Estudante Feto nian iha Maiu 2026 hametin liután relasaun bilaterál sira.
Prezidente Ramos-Horta regularmente partisipa iha serimónia Prémiu Zayed ba Fraternidade Umana no elojia kompromisu EAU nian ba pás no toleránsia.
EAU planeia atu estabelese embaixada ida iha Díli, pasu ida ne’ebé Prezidente simu ho laran-haksolok nu’udar sinál ba relasaun ne’ebé aprofunda.
Vizita nivel aas husi Sua Exelénsia Noura Al Kaabi, Ministra Estadu iha Ministériu Negósiu Estranjeiru Emiradus Árabes Unidus nian, no ninia delegasaun ba Timor-Leste sei konklui iha loron Tersa-feira, 1 Setembru 2026.
REMATA//