Abu Dhabi: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during his visit to the United Arab Emirates to discuss new areas of cooperation between Kerala and Abu Dhabi.

The meeting, held in Abu Dhabi, focused on expanding collaboration in sectors such as investment, infrastructure development, education, health care, and technology. Both leaders expressed interest in building stronger economic and social partnerships that would benefit people in both regions.

The Crown Prince, who also serves as Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, welcomed Pinarayi Vijayan and his team and appreciated Kerala’s contributions through its large expatriate community in the UAE. Senior UAE officials, including Ahmed Jasem Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, and Saif Saeed Ghobash, Secretary General of the Executive Council, were present at the meeting.

Pinarayi Vijayan described the talks as productive and said they opened doors for future cooperation in several development areas. He also thanked the Crown Prince for the warm welcome extended to the Kerala delegation.

The visit underlined the close connection between Kerala and the UAE, home to one of the largest Malayali communities abroad. The discussions are expected to lead to new initiatives and investments in Kerala, especially in infrastructure and innovation.

The Kerala Chief Minister’s meeting with the Abu Dhabi leadership is seen as part of a broader effort to strengthen ties between Indian states and Gulf countries, moving beyond traditional labour relations toward long-term economic and cultural collaboration.