Minister McGuinty concludes successful visit to United Arab Emirates and Qatar

Ottawa, Ontario – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Today, the Minister of National Defence, the Honourable David J. McGuinty, concluded a productive visit to the Middle East as part of the Government of Canada’s broader effort to diversify defence partnerships and expand defence industrial cooperation.

While in the UAE, Minister McGuinty participated in the United Kingdom and France co-

led call concerning the Strait of Hormuz multilateral military mission. During the call, Minister McGuinty reiterated Canada’s commitment to working with partners to secure the Strait of Hormuz. In coordination with multinational partners and in solidarity with our Gulf partners, Canada committed to support in areas such as maritime logistics, demining, space and intelligence. Canada continues to call for diplomatic solutions to restore safe and reliable passage and urges all parties to respect international law.

Minister McGuinty held meetings with His Excellency Mohamed bin Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei, the Minister of State for Defence Affairs, and His Excellency Dr Mohamad Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security. During the meetings, key themes discussed included expanding bilateral defence relationships, the importance of sustained engagement and dialogue to increase defence and military cooperation, strengthening cyber cooperation, and improving information exchanges. The Ministers also spoke of the benefits of Canadian and Emirati defence sector companies working together to reinforce regional peace in the Middle East and improve resilience of their own supply chains to meet military requirements. While in Abu Dhabi, the Minister participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Wahat Al Karama war memorial to honour fallen Emiratis soldiers and took part in a cultural visit at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

In Qatar, Minister McGuinty held a bilateral meeting with his counterpart, His Excellency Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs. The Ministers discussed avenues to further strengthen defence ties and enhance dialogue between both nations, including through the establishment of an office for Canada’s new Defence Attaché in Doha in June. Minister McGuinty reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to supporting regional peace and security across the Middle East.

The visit also focused on expanding collaboration between Canada’s defence sector and Middle East-based companies. In the UAE, Minister McGuinty met with several key leaders from EDGE Group and toured defence manufacturing facilities. During a working luncheon, the Minister exchanged views with representatives from several Canadian companies working in the UAE including, CAE Defence & Security, Current Scientific, L3 Harris, NORTAC Defence, PAL Aerospace, Bombardier Defence, and Bell. While in Qatar, he participated in an industry roundtable with representatives from Canadian defence and aerospace companies operating in the region, including CAE, General Dynamics Land Systems, Al-Fahd, and Barzan Holdings. During these discussions, the Minister highlighted opportunities to strengthen industrial cooperation, promote Canadian innovation, and reinforce Canada’s growing role as a partner of choice in global defence markets. He also highlighted the recent release of Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy and how it aims to increase and diversify defence industrial collaboration while creating new opportunities for Canadian firms abroad.

The Minister’s visit demonstrated Canada’s commitment to its longstanding relationships with the UAE and Qatar at a critical moment for global security and stability. The visit also builds on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to the UAE in November 2025 and Qatar in January 2026, which marked an important step forward in these bilateral relationships.

Quotes

“My visits to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar provided valuable opportunities to strengthen Canada’s longstanding defence relationships in the region. These engagements reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to constructive dialogue, strengthened cooperation, and support for stability and security across the Middle East. Canada values these important relationships and looks forward to continued collaboration.”

The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence

Quick facts

• This visit marks Minister McGuinty’s first trip to the region as Minister of National Defence.

• Canada and the UAE have had a Defence Cooperation Arrangement in place since 2017, supporting defence engagement in areas including training, military education, and defence logistics.

• Canada and Qatar signed a Defence Cooperation Arrangement in August 2021 to pursue further military-to-military cooperation.

• In January 2026, Canada and Qatar announced intent to establish a defence, security, and intelligence framework, including cooperation on military training.

• Canada will establish an office for Canada’s Defence Attaché in Doha in June 2026 to support sustained and meaningful defence engagements.