Aref Ali Nayed - Ambassadorial Role

Ambassadorial Role

On 20 September, Nayed returned to UAE to take part in the Annual Ceremony where all new ambassadors gave their credentials to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Since Nayed became Ambassador the Libyan Mission the UAE has hosted several high-profile delegations from Libya. Delegations have included a team of Ministers along with the Prime Minister Abdurrahman Al Keib, a large group from the Libyan Ministry of Culture, leaders from the Tripoli Local Council, among others. Delegations have been introduced to their various counterparts in the Emirates. The Libyan Ministry of Culture visit included travel to sites of significance and to cultural organizations in the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. The Consulate in Dubai has also hosted several Libyan sports teams for training and competition in the UAE including the Libyan National Football team and the Libyan Chess team.

Since the liberation of Libya he has made a number of public addresses, in universities in Libya, Turkey and the UK. He was also asked to make the key-note address in the TEDx Tripoli event, where Deputy Prime-Minister Abushagur also gave a speech. He gives regular teachings in Dubai on Islamic theology and philosophy and its role in the lives of people today.

During Nayed’s time leading the Libyan diplomatic mission to the UAE, consular services were restored and good diplomatic relations were established and upheld with both the UAE and other states.

The Libyan diplomatic mission also participated in the organization of a charity football match. The Embassy staff also helped Etihad airways with a launch event for a direct UAE-Libya route with an inaugural flight with numerous dignitaries. A small community event to celebrate the 17 February was hosted by the Libyan Consulate in Dubai. Nayed also resided over the reopening of the Libyan Embassy in Abu Dhabi; as control of the previous embassy was returned to the landlords once the Gaddaffi era diplomats were expelled from the UAE. The staff of the Libyan Mission facilitated a visit by the Libyan PM, Abdul Rahim ElKeeb, along with nine ministers, who were on a tour of the gulf region and wanted to meet UAE officials. Nayed’s staff also helped coordinate a fact-finding visit by the Libyan Ministry of Culture to the UAE, which included visits to the Abu Dhabi Book Fair, and museums and cultural sites in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. During this visit the Libyan Embassy also organized a traditional Libyan musical performance, A series of debates on pertinent issues of concern to Libyans were also held including on critical thinking and the issue of federalism in Libya.

During the year that Dr Nayed was in charge of the Libyan diplomatic mission cordial relations were established with all other diplomatic missions, and a reception of all ambassadors to UAE was held in the reopened Libyan embassy in Abu Dhabi. Overseas voting was held in the Dubai consulate, along with voting centres in Amman, Berlin, London, Washington DC, and Canada. In line with the original agreement with NTC leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil, Nayed stepped down from the ambassadorial post, once elections were held successfully in Libya.