“UAE Delegation led by Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability Affairs visits Norway”

Abdulla Balalaa, the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability Affairs, recently led a delegation from the UAE on an official visit to the Kingdom of Norway from April 22 to 23. The main purpose of the visit was to strengthen bilateral relations and explore opportunities for cooperation in sustainable energy and climate action. UAE Ambassador to Norway, Fatima Al Mazrouei, and Norway’s Ambassador to the UAE, Olav Myklebust, also participated in the visit.

During the visit, Balalaa met with Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, the Minister of Climate and Environment of Norway, to discuss the outcomes of the recent Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28). They also emphasized the importance of collaboration in achieving the goals set out in the historic ‘UAE Consensus’.

Additionally, Balalaa held meetings with Maria Varteressian, the State Secretary for the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, and Hans Olaf Ibrekk, the Special Envoy for Climate and Security of Norway. Discussions covered various topics related to renewable energy, scientific research, international obligations, as well as economic and trade partnerships between the two countries.

The UAE delegation also visited the Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø, known for its expertise in research on climate affairs, AI, and space engineering. Furthermore, they toured the Norwegian Polar Institute, which is focused on environmental and climate research, to understand Norway’s initiatives in combating climate change in the Arctic regions and the research findings of the Institute.

Overall, the visit to Norway was an important step in fostering cooperation between the UAE and Norway in the areas of sustainable energy, climate action, and scientific research.