Canada Arab Congress Facilitates High-Level Dialogue Between Minister Mélanie Joly and Gulf Ambassadors

The Canada Arab Congress on Middle East and North Africa Relations (CACMR) is pleased to announce the successful facilitation of a high-level meeting between Mélanie Joly, Canada’s Minister of Industry, and distinguished ambassadors from the Arab Gulf region, as well as Canadian senior leaders. The meeting took place on April 27, 2026, at the Minister’s office in Ottawa. 

Organized and facilitated by Abdullatif Al-Shaikh, President and Chair of CACMR, and attended by Dr. Mohammed Al-Anbaki, Vice President of Operations of the Congress, the meeting convened key diplomatic, governmental, and business leaders to advance dialogue on strengthening industrial cooperation and foreign direct investment between Canada and the Gulf region.

A Clear Message: Canada is Open for Business

Minister Joly opened the session with a strong message of partnership and opportunity:

“Canada is open for business. I was happy to host a productive meeting with partners from the Arab Gulf region for a discussion on deepening industrial partnerships and foreign direct investments in an evolving geopolitical environment.”

The discussion underscored Canada’s commitment to fostering resilient, long-term economic partnerships with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries amid shifting global dynamics.

Distinguished Participants

The meeting brought together an influential group of ambassadors and senior leaders, including:

• H.E. Abdulrahman Ali Almur Ali Alneyadi, Ambassador of the UAE to Canada

• H.E. Amal Yahya Almoalimi, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Canada

• H.E. Tariq Ali F. H. Al-Ansari, Ambassador of Qatar to Canada

• H.E. Jamal Abdullah Yahya Al-Sallal, Dean of the Arab Diplomatic Corps & Ambassador of the Republic of Yemen

• Senator Mohammad Al Zaibak

• Karl Tabbakh, Chair of Invest in Canada

• Abdullaif Al-Shaikh, President & Chair of the Canada Arab Congress on Middle East & North Africa Relations (CACMR)

• Scott Joliffe, Honourary Chair of the Canada Arab Business Council

• Noura Kechacha, President of the Canada UAE Business Council

• Cathy Seguin, President of the Canada Arab Business Council

• Mr. Abdulaziz Alanazi, Observer with the Embassy of Saudi Arabia

Meeting Highlights

The structured session included:

• Introductory Remarks by Minister Joly

• Open Dialogue focused on strategic collaboration

• Closing Remarks, reinforcing next steps

Key areas of discussion included:

• Reinforcing Canada’s position as a stable, reliable, and strategic partner for global trade and investment

• Sharing perspectives on regional economic conditions and geopolitical developments

• Exploring joint economic diversification strategies between Canada and GCC partners

• Identifying practical collaboration opportunities, including:

  • Investment partnerships

  • Technology exchange

  • Joint ventures across priority sectors

Ambassadors engaged in a constructive dialogue, outlining specific avenues for participation and collaboration, and providing recommendations on key sectors where partnership with the Minister and the Government of Canada could be further advanced. These included strategic industries aligned with both Canada’s economic priorities and the Gulf region’s diversification agendas.

Participants also expressed strong interest in Canada’s evolving investment landscape and welcomed Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent announcement of Canada’s sovereign wealth fund, noting its potential to unlock new opportunities for bilateral and multilateral investment partnerships.

Strengthening Canada–Gulf Economic Ties

The dialogue highlighted a shared commitment to deepening economic engagement and unlocking new avenues for cooperation in sectors such as innovation, infrastructure, energy transition, and advanced manufacturing.

Abdullatif Al-Shaikh expressed his appreciation to Minister Joly for hosting the meeting and for her leadership in advancing Canada’s international economic partnerships. He emphasized CACMR’s commitment to continuing this momentum, noting that this engagement marks the beginning of a series of high-level dialogues with Gulf Cooperation Council ambassadors, with plans to expand participation to include additional ambassadors from across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

CACMR’s role in convening this high-level engagement reflects its ongoing mission to serve as a bridge between Canada and the Arab world—facilitating strategic partnerships that drive mutual prosperity.