ABU DHABI - Italians diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates are at an all time low, with several defence contracts being directed to other countries and former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte placing an embargo on weapons exports, so Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio’s three day trip to the UAE was an important one. 

  He arrived on Sunday in time for a long lunch with his Emirati counterpart Abdullah bin Zayed, and though it may be a while before any direct consequences are felt, the meetings seemed cordial.

  At the inauguration of Italy’s pavilion at the Dubai 2020 World Expo, “the first great international event after the pandemic,” Di Maio said, “I hope that we can all share the same message and same conviction: that together we can look beyond the crisis and transform it into an opportunity to restart better thanks to the power of the ‘beauty that unites people.’”

  Italy’s pavilion will celebrate technology and culture, and will feature a replica of Michelangelo’s David.

  “We are looking at September for the completion of the vaccination campaign, and so the October opening of the Dubai Expo will be the occasion, together with all the countries that are exhibiting here, to all restart together, to help our businesses and ‘Made in Italy’ throughout the world, meaning more jobs in Italy,” Di Maio said at the construction site for Italy’s pavilion.

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