President Parmelin attends World Governments Summit in Dubai
Berne, 03.02.2026 — On Tuesday, 3 February, President Guy Parmelin attended the World Governments Summit (WGS) in Dubai. The summit was dedicated to shaping future governments. Mr Parmelin used the occasion to foster bilateral contacts with heads of state and government. He also met with the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Mohammad bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Economy and other government representatives.
During the talks emphasis was placed on the good relations between Switzerland and the UAE, characterised by regular exchanges. The two sides signed memorandums of understanding on water supply and the establishment of a joint economic commission. The UAE is already by far Switzerland's most important trading partner in the Middle East.
In addition to economic cooperation, bilateral relations cover numerous other areas. The talks focused on issues such as education and research, humanitarian aid, particularly with regard to water supply, and international issues such as the situation in the Gaza Strip, Iran and Yemen. Efforts to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine were also discussed.
Bilateral talks on the margins of the summit
The World Governments Summit is not a traditional political conference, but rather a forum for exchanging knowledge, ideas and models for the future, bringing together representatives from the public sector, business and civil society. Around 30 heads of state and government and 400 ministers were registered to attend this year. The discussions focused on future governance models.
On the margins of the summit, Mr Parmelin held bilateral talks with Kosovan President Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu and North Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova. In addition to bilateral relations, the Switzerland-EU package and the situation in the Western Balkans were also discussed. Trade relations were the focus of a meeting with Angolan President João Lourenço. The programme in the UAE also included a number of meetings with representatives from Swiss companies.
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