UAE And Estonia Reaffirm Cooperative Ties At World Governments Summit 2026 Opening
On the opening day of the World Governments Summit 2026, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum met Alar Karis, President of the Republic of Estonia, to discuss government cooperation and digital progress. The meeting took place in Dubai as the Summit opened under the theme ‘Shaping Future Governments.’
H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the UAE, attended the talks. The World Governments Summit 2026 runs for three days and attracts senior leaders, experts and executives from governments and global organisations.
During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed welcomed President Alar Karis and the Estonian delegation, and underlined the UAE’s appreciation of its friendly ties with the Republic of Estonia. Both sides reviewed the status of bilateral relations and examined ways to expand cooperation in several priority fields for their governments.
The discussion focused on potential collaboration in innovation, digital transformation and future-focused public services. H.H. Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to working with partners worldwide to develop more efficient and agile government models that respond to national aspirations for sustainable development and long-term prosperity.
The meeting also considered major themes on the World Governments Summit 2026 agenda, including future governance, public sector readiness and technology-enabled services. Both parties noted the Summit’s role as a global platform for sharing expertise and shaping new approaches to government work among countries from different regions.
The President of the Republic of Estonia, emphasising the warm relations with the UAE, highlighted the pivotal role played by the World Governments Summit in strengthening international cooperation and enabling governments to enhance their capabilities and the tools at their disposal to address future challenges. He praised the World Governments Summit’s impressive level of organisation and its contribution to shaping innovative visions for advancing government work and building a better future for societies around the globe.
The World Governments Summit 2026 hosts more than 60 heads of state and government and their deputies, as well as over 500 ministers. Delegations from more than 150 governments are taking part, alongside representatives of more than 80 international and regional organisations and global institutions, and over 700 CEOs of major global corporations.
Total attendance at the World Governments Summit 2026 exceeds 6,250 participants, reflecting wide interest in its sessions and workshops. The programme highlights knowledge exchange on digital governance, policy design and institutional agility, aiming to support countries as they respond to emerging social, economic and technological challenges in the coming years.
The meeting was also attended by H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE National Olympic Committee; H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the World Governments Summit; and Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation.
The discussions between UAE and Estonian leaders at the World Governments Summit 2026 highlight shared interest in advanced digital services and future-ready administration. By engaging through this multilateral platform, both countries support broader international dialogue on effective governance, institutional capacity and sustainable development priorities across different regions, including the Middle East.
With inputs from WAM
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