Rabat – Morocco and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have taken a new step in strengthening their security partnership.
Morocco’s Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance, Abdellatif Hammouchi, received the head of the UAE’s National Intelligence Service, Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri, in Rabat today.
The Emirati official was accompanied by a high-level security delegation. According to a statement from Morocco’s security services, the visit aimed to strengthen cooperation and broaden the scope of security coordination between the two countries.
During the meeting, both officials discussed ways to boost operational cooperation and improve the exchange of information to deal with all types of security threats. Particular attention was given to the fight against terrorism in global hotspots.
The meeting also included a detailed discussion on the growing security challenges in Africa, especially in the Sahel and Sahara regions. Both parties stressed the need to work together to fight terrorism in the area, which they said poses a growing threat not only to neighboring countries but also to international peace and security.
The Moroccan and Emirati officials agreed to strengthen their collaboration and expand their joint efforts. The statement noted that the talks reflected a shared desire to protect both nations from regional and global threats and to ensure the safety and stability of their peoples.
This visit confirms the close and growing partnership between Morocco and the UAE in the field of security and intelligence, concluded the statement.
In recent years, Morocco and the UAE have deepened their partnership across multiple fronts. Economically, the UAE is Morocco’s leading Arab investor and its third-largest foreign direct investor, with trade between the two countries increasing roughly 30% to $1.3 billion in 2023.
In 2024, both countries signed a landmark Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), aiming to lower trade barriers and boost collaboration in sectors like renewable energy, infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, logistics, and tech.
In addition, they have elevated their security cooperation through multiple memoranda of understanding, ranging from police training and internships to cyber‑security and intelligence sharing.
