UAE Gives Up Bid To Host 2026 World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings To Support Qatar

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has retracted its request to host the 2026 World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Meetings to show its support for Qatar.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan wished Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani all the success in hosting the international gathering during a phone call Sunday.

During the call, Sheikh Mohamed told the Emir of Qatar that the UAE would support the country in its bid to host the 2026 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the IMF. The two leaders also discussed the fraternal relations between the UAE and Qatar and ways to strengthen them, as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.

In turn, Sheikh Tamim expressed his gratitude to Sheikh Mohamed, indicating the warming ties between the two nations.

It can be recalled that the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt ended their three-and-a-half-year ban on links with Qatar in early 2021. The embargo stemmed from Qatar's downright support for Islamist groups deemed to jeopardize the Gulf dynastic rule. But while Riyadh and Cairo were quick to rebuild their relations with Doha, Abu Dhabi did not warm up at the same pace as the two cities.

However, Abu Dhabi has made strides to rebuild its ties with Doha since Sheikh Mohammed made his first official visit to Qatar after more than three years in December 2022 to watch the World Cup. The city has also restored trade and travel links with the Gulf country, although it has yet to appoint an envoy to Doha.

The World Bank and IMF Meetings gather together central bankers, finance ministers, private sector executives and experts in the fields of civil society, media and academics to discuss global issues, including global financial stability, the world economic outlook and inclusive economic growth. Also tackled during the annual meetings are issues that significantly affect societies, including poverty, job creation and climate change.

This year's meetings will take place in Marrakesh, Morocco, from Oct. 9 to 15. It will then be held for the next two consecutive years at the World Bank and IMF headquarters in Washington, D.C.