DILI, 19 May 2026 (TATOLI) — The President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta on Tuesday received United Arab Emirates Ambassador Abdulla Salem AlDhaheri at the Presidential Palace in Bairro Pité, Dili, for talks aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation, with a focus on education development and diplomatic training for Timorese officials.
During the meeting, Ambassador AlDhaheri conveyed greetings from UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Ramos-Horta and the people of Timor-Leste on the occasion of the country’s 24th Restoration of Independence anniversary.
The ambassador also announced that the foundation stone for a female student dormitory funded by the UAE government would be laid on May 20.
The project is expected to support access to education by providing accommodation for female students in Timor-Leste.
Ramos-Horta and AlDhaheri also discussed a diplomatic training programme for Timorese diplomats to be conducted at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi.
According to the ambassador, both governments are expected to formalise an agreement later this year to begin implementing the initiative.
The programme is expected to strengthen the capacity of Timorese diplomats by equipping them with strategic skills and international experience, enhancing Timor-Leste’s diplomatic presence at both regional and global levels.
The meeting reflects growing cooperation between Timor-Leste and the United Arab Emirates in areas including education, institutional development and diplomatic capacity-building.
TATOLI
