UAE and Timor-Leste deepen digital cooperation and food security ties
By Catherine Smith GST 3 min read
UAE Minister of State Noura Al Kaabi visited Timor-Leste to advance UAE Timor-Leste digital cooperation across government services, food security, water management and investment, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Al Kaabi was accompanied by Abdulla Salem Al Dhaheri, UAE Ambassador to Indonesia and non-resident ambassador to Timor-Leste, and Omar Shehadeh, UAE envoy to the Caribbean and Pacific states. The visit forms part of a broader Pacific tour aimed at deepening the UAE’s diplomatic and economic engagement in the region.
Talks cover digitisation, trade and economic agreements
Al Kaabi met President José Ramos-Horta, with discussions centring on the digitisation of government services and digital transformation as a driver of sustainable development. The two sides agreed to accelerate cooperation in digitisation while exploring opportunities in water management and food security.
Separate meetings were held with Timor-Leste’s Minister of Finance, Santina José Rodrigues F. Viegas Cardoso, and Deputy Prime Minister Francisco Kalbuadi Lay. Talks with the finance minister focused on attracting investment and economic diversification, with both sides agreeing to advance discussions toward finalising key economic agreements covering trade, investment and longer-term cooperation.
Discussions with Kalbuadi Lay examined potential international partnerships in sustainable tourism, including how the UAE’s experience in building a diversified tourism sector could support Timor-Leste’s development in the industry. Al Kaabi also met Foreign Affairs Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas to discuss bilateral relations and avenues for expanded cooperation.
The Tatoli news agency reported that renewable energy also featured in the discussions, alongside the digitisation of public services, water management and food security agenda.
Girls’ residence and youth initiative mark UAE support on the ground
Al Kaabi visited the site of the Timor UAE Residence for Girls in Dili, a project supported by the UAE to provide young women with safe accommodation while pursuing their studies. A ground-breaking ceremony for the complex was held on 20 May 2026, with a memorandum of understanding signed the same month, according to a Timor-Leste Presidency press release.
The Government of Timor-Leste said the residence is scheduled for completion in 2027 and will be built on a site adjacent to the Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace. Al Kaabi took part in a symbolic tree planting at the site during the visit.
The UAE Embassy in Indonesia, which holds accreditation to Timor-Leste, hosted a reception attended by President Ramos-Horta, senior government officials and members of the diplomatic community. The event included an awards ceremony for ‘Show the World Your Paradise,’ a UAE-sponsored competition for Timorese students who produced short films showcasing their country. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the competition as reflecting a broader commitment to local talent development and youth empowerment.
Ramos-Horta attended the World Governments Summit in Dubai on 5 February 2026, where he spoke of Timor-Leste’s international relations, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM). That engagement followed a working visit by Ramos-Horta to Abu Dhabi in October 2023, when he met UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Al Kaabi said relations between the two countries have grown in recent years. ‘We look forward to building on this momentum to further strengthen our diplomatic and economic ties and fulfil the aspirations of the peoples of both countries for sustainable development and prosperity,’ she said.
The two sides agreed to advance discussions toward finalising economic agreements, with the completion of the girls’ residence in Dili due in 2027 marking the next concrete deliverable from the partnership.
