During his visit, Mr Michel met General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE armed forces, to discuss bilateral military cooperation.

“The UAE has reaffirmed its support for Seychelles in the fight against piracy as this scourge is affecting the entire region, from ports of the UAE to Port Victoria,” said the President after the visit.

“By forming regional partnerships, we will be more effective in combating this problem.”
In July this year the UAE pledged two patrol boats and three fast patrol boats, as well as a helicopter, to the Seychelles Coast Guard.

The UAE also signed an agreement with the government to fund the construction of a new coast guard base on Ile Perseverance, in a project worth US $15 million.

Last week, the chief of the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces, Brigadier Leopold Payet, and the deputy commander of the Seychelles Coast Guard, Major George Adeline, paid a visit to inspect the maritime patrol vessels in the UAE.

During his visit, Mr Michel received confirmation that the boats will be delivered early next year.

Building work has now started on the coast guard base, which will be equipped with a coastal radar system and radio communications equipment, backed up by radars positioned over several islands.

During his visit Mr Michel also attended the final leg of the F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit.

The Formula 1 event was also attended by King Juan Carlos of Spain, the Prince of Monaco Prince Albert II, the Crown Prince of Bahrain Prince Salman bin Hamad, the Prime Minister of Swaziland Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini, the Prime Minister of Lebanon Saad Al Hariri, the former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, members of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, senior officials, diplomats and dignitaries.