Aleksandar Vucic, President of Serbia, awaits the arrival of President Sheikh Mohamed at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. All photos: Omar Al Askar / UAE Presidential Court
Aleksandar Vucic, President of Serbia, awaits the arrival of President Sheikh Mohamed at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. All photos: Omar Al Askar / UAE Presidential Court
Sheikh Mohamed greets Mr Vucic
Sheikh Mohamed greets Mr Vucic
Mr Vucic greets Sheikh Mohamed
Mr Vucic greets Sheikh Mohamed
Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Vucic
Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Vucic
Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Vucic
Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Vucic
Serbian honour guards await the arrival of Sheikh Mohamed
Serbian honour guards await the arrival of Sheikh Mohamed

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UAE

President Sheikh Mohamed concludes official visit to Serbia

UAE leader and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic attended military parade

The National

September 20, 2025

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UAE President Sheikh Mohamed and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic attended a military parade on Saturday, part of celebrations marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag.

The parade, which took place in front of the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade, featured units of the Serbian Armed Forces, including displays of military vehicles, defence systems, river fleet vessels, command and protection forces, air defence units, and paratroopers.

A ceremonial display of the Serbian national flag, stretching approximately 300 metres, also took place in front of the main grandstand.

At the event, Sheikh Mohamed reaffirmed the strength of UAE–Serbia relations and the shared commitment to further enhancing bilateral ties in the interests of both nations and their peoples.

Following the event, the official UAE visit to Serbia was concluded.

Third international engagement of the week

Sheikh Mohamed had arrived in Belgrade for a working visit to the Republic of Serbia on Friday evening.

He was received at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

The UAE President had been accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence.

The delegation also included Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon, Adviser to the UAE President, along with several ministers and senior government officials.

The visit underscores the co-operation and growing diplomatic and economic ties between the UAE and Serbia.

The visit is Sheikh Mohamed's third engagement abroad this week, coming after he concluded a visit to Azerbaijan on Tuesday followed by a visit to Georgia.

On Friday, he held talks with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. The two leaders reviewed efforts to strengthen ties in key sectors, such as investment, the economy, agriculture, renewable energy and sustainability.

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There has been a longstanding need from the Indian community to have a religious premises where they can practise their beliefs. Currently there is a very, very small temple in Bur Dubai and the community has outgrown this. So this will be a major temple and open to all denominations and a place should reflect India’s diversity.

It fits so well into the UAE’s own commitment to tolerance and pluralism and coming in the year of tolerance gives it that extra dimension.

What we will see on April 20 is the foundation ceremony and we expect a pretty broad cross section of the Indian community to be present, both from the UAE and abroad. The Hindu group that is building the temple will have their holiest leader attending – and we expect very senior representation from the leadership of the UAE.

When the designs were taken to the leadership, there were two clear options. There was a New Jersey model with a rectangular structure with the temple recessed inside so it was not too visible from the outside and another was the Neasden temple in London with the spires in its classical shape. And they said: look we said we wanted a temple so it should look like a temple. So this should be a classical style temple in all its glory.

It is beautifully located - 30 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and barely 45 minutes to Dubai so it serves the needs of both communities.

This is going to be the big temple where I expect people to come from across the country at major festivals and occasions.

It is hugely important – it will take a couple of years to complete given the scale. It is going to be remarkable and will contribute something not just to the landscape in terms of visual architecture but also to the ethos. Here will be a real representation of UAE’s pluralism.

Updated: September 20, 2025, 12:14 PM`
UAESerbiaSheikh Mohamed bin Zayed