Jakarta. The United Arab Emirates is seeking to deepen cooperation with Indonesia in food security and energy as the two countries prepare to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations, UAE Ambassador to Indonesia Abdulla Salem AlDhaheri said on Monday.

Abdulla said the proposed collaboration aligns with programs under President Prabowo Subianto, including the government’s free nutritious meals initiative for schoolchildren, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.

“I think there are areas where we can work together with Indonesia to develop better food security programs that allow both sides to join forces, share experience, knowledge, and technology,” Abdulla said after meeting the Executive Chairman of B-Universe Media Holdings, Enggartiasto Lukita, at the UAE Embassy in South Jakarta.

The hour-long meeting covered a range of strategic sectors.

“Today we also discussed many areas such as education, healthcare, energy, geothermal, and several other fields for collaboration,” Abdulla said.

He described the half-century relationship between Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates as a strong foundation for expanding cooperation across multiple sectors, adding that bilateral ties have become increasingly close and exclusive over time.

Beyond diplomatic matters, the discussions also explored opportunities for collaboration in media and commerce as part of broader efforts to strengthen bilateral relations.

“We want to ensure we can present cooperation in a way that blends the cultures of both countries,” Abdulla said. “We also talked about the relationship between media and business, how it began, and where we stand today.”

The upcoming 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations is expected to serve as a springboard for expanding Indonesia–UAE cooperation in strategic areas including investment, the creative economy, and cultural exchanges.