Working visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

At the request of the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, and Mr. Whit Fraser undertook working visits to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Kuwait, from March 17 to 23, 2022. The visits included stops in Dubai, Sharjah, Doha and Kuwait City.

March 17, 2022

Their Excellencies arrived in Dubai.

March 18, 2022

In the morning, Their Excellencies visited the Canadian University in Dubai (CUD). The Governor General engaged with students at CUD and took part in a question-and-answer session focused on the themes of women’s empowerment and life in the north.

We have seen how international co-operation is essential to preventing and addressing conflicts and crises. This has been proven time and again, but it bears repeating, particularly in this time of global unrest.
Despite the challenges, there is always hope. There is always a reason to work harder, to go further, to create a better world.

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada

In the afternoon, the Governor General visited the Sharjah House of Wisdom to meet with local children and students, and offered them a reading from a Canadian children’s book.

Later, Her Excellency met with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to further deepen our strong bilateral relationship. She also visited the Ukrainian pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai to leave a message of hope on the wall.

March 19, 2022

The Governor General attended the Canada National Day Ceremony at Expo 2020 Dubai and delivered remarks as the guest of honour. She met with His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Commissioner General of the United Arab Emirates for Expo and Minister of Tolerance of the United Arab Emirates. Their Excellencies also visited a number of pavilions at Expo 2022 Dubai, including that of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Women.

No one person, no one country, can go it alone. It requires collaboration across borders to solve the most pressing challenges.

March 24, 2022