Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has arrived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to attend the World Governments Summit 2025, a prominent global platform for discussions on policy and governance.
Yunus’s Emirates Airlines flight landed at Dubai International Airport around 1:30 am Bangladesh time on Thursday, as confirmed by his press secretary Shafiqul Alam. Upon arrival, UAE’s Minister of Sports, Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, welcomed him.
The minister expressed his gratitude for Yunus’s attendance at the summit and briefed him on the importance of the international event, which has been a significant part of Dubai’s calendar for the past decade. A statement from the Chief Advisor’s Office noted that the discussions would also cover strengthening cooperation in sports and culture between Bangladesh and the UAE, in addition to other bilateral matters.
Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain, Bangladesh’s Ambassador to the UAE Tareq Ahmed, and UAE Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdullah Ali Khaseif Al Hamoudi also attended the meeting.
Yunus had departed Dhaka at 7:45 pm on the same day, bound for Dubai.
The World Governments Summit 2025 will be held from February 11 to 13, with heads of state and government from nearly 30 countries expected to participate. The Chief Advisor is scheduled to return to Bangladesh on Friday after his two-day visit.
In a briefing on Sunday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Rafiqul Alam stated that, in addition to attending the summit, Yunus is expected to hold bilateral meetings with various heads of state and government and may also meet with political and business leaders attending the event.
Yunus was invited to the summit on January 13 by UAE Vice President, Prime Minister, and Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Rafiqul Alam added that this year’s summit would focus on enhancing partnerships between governments, fostering global dialogue, and strengthening cooperation to build bridges between governments and their people.
Excitement Among Bangladeshi Expats in UAE
The visit has sparked excitement among the Bangladeshi expatriate community in the UAE. Many are hopeful that discussions with the UAE government will address issues such as visa concerns, open doors for skilled labor export, and create new investment opportunities.
Engineer Salah Uddin believes resolving the worker visa issue could significantly increase remittances from the UAE to Bangladesh. Meanwhile, some expatriates who had been detained during the July protests and later released by an interim government are optimistic that Yunus’s visit will help address their complexities, as they were forced to return home after losing employment.
Bangladeshi businessman Shahadat Hossain highlighted the visa freeze that nearly 1.5 million Bangladeshis in the UAE have faced, which has hindered his ability to relocate his company. He also emphasized the potential for Bangladesh to expand in sectors like pharmaceuticals.
