At the request of the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, and Mr. Whit Fraser undertook working visits to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Kuwait, from March 17 to 23, 2022. The visits included stops in Dubai, Sharjah, Doha and Kuwait City.
March 17, 2022
Their Excellencies arrived in Dubai.
March 18, 2022
In the morning, Their Excellencies visited the Canadian University in Dubai (CUD). The Governor General engaged with students at CUD and took part in a question-and-answer session focused on the themes of women’s empowerment and life in the north.
We have seen how international co-operation is essential to preventing and addressing conflicts and crises. This has been proven time and again, but it bears repeating, particularly in this time of global unrest.
Despite the challenges, there is always hope. There is always a reason to work harder, to go further, to create a better world.
In the afternoon, the Governor General visited the Sharjah House of Wisdom to meet with local children and students, and offered them a reading from a Canadian children’s book.
Later, Her Excellency met with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to further deepen our strong bilateral relationship. She also visited the Ukrainian pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai to leave a message of hope on the wall.
March 19, 2022
The Governor General attended the Canada National Day Ceremony at Expo 2020 Dubai and delivered remarks as the guest of honour. She met with His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Commissioner General of the United Arab Emirates for Expo and Minister of Tolerance of the United Arab Emirates. Their Excellencies also visited a number of pavilions at Expo 2022 Dubai, including that of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Women.
No one person, no one country, can go it alone. It requires collaboration across borders to solve the most pressing challenges.
Their Excellences arrived in Dubai for the first leg of her visit to the Middle East.
- Credit: MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG08-2022-0032-016
Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, and Mr. Whit Fraser undertook working visits to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Kuwait.
- Credit: MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG08-2022-0033-037
Their Excellencies spoke with students at the Canadian University Dubai.
- Credit: MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG08-2022-0033-042
Her Excellency’s visit to the Middle East came at a time of global unrest, and highlighted the necessity of diplomacy and global co-operation.
- Credit: MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG08-2022-0033-042
The Governor General visited the Sharjah House of Wisdom to meet with local children and students.
- Credit: MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG08-2022-0035-023
The Governor General visited the Sharjah House of Wisdom and offered to read the children a Canadian children’s book.
- Credit: MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG08-2022-0035-032
Later, Her Excellency visited the Ukrainian pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai.
- Credit: MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG08-2022-0037-009
Her Excellency visited the Ukrainian pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai and left a message of hope on the wall.
- Credit: MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG08-2022-0037-012
Governor General Mary Simon met with His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Vice-President of the UAE and ruler of Dubai.
“This is a challenging time for those who believe in international co-operation, and who are working tirelessly to strengthen dialogue between nations. This period of global unrest highlights the need for diplomacy and collaboration.”
- Credit: MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG08-2022-0038-056
“I would like to thank the UAE for their resilience and effort in hosting the first world expo in the Middle East.”
- Credit: MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG08-2022-0038-146
“It’s heartening to see Canadian culture and art celebrated on such a public and global stage. This speaks to the strong relationships we have, both with the UAE and with many other countries represented at Expo 2020.”
- Credit: MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG08-2022-0038-162
“The world is changing. We know what is happening day-by-day, hour-by-hour, minute-by-minute, thanks to our connectivity.”
- Credit: MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG08-2022-0038-339
“For good and for ill, social media gives us a view into people’s lives.”
- Credit: MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG08-2022-0038-359
“It brings to light inequalities, conflicts and discrimination at the same time we see the hope, generosity and kindness of humanity.”
- Credit: MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG08-2022-0038-395
“Meanwhile, science provides us with evidence of the fragility of our natural world and what we need to do to save our planet.”
- Credit: MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG08-2022-0038-401
"Now, more than ever, we cannot give up on communication, dialogue, partnerships and finding common ground to resolve shared challenges."
- Credit: MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG08-2022-0038-455
The Governor General attended the Canada National Day Ceremony at Expo 2020 Dubai and delivered remarks as the guest of honour.
- Credit: MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG08-2022-0038-464
Their Excellencies visited a number of pavilions at Expo 2022 Dubai, including that of Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and Women.
- Credit: MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG08-2022-0038-497
“No one person, no one country, can go it alone. It requires collaboration across borders to solve the most pressing challenges.”
- Credit: MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG08-2022-0038-547