• Home
• /
• Local business

Shaikh Abdullah graces opening of Shaikh Zayed Airport in Kukes

KUKES (ALBANIA) — UAE Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan inaugurated the Shaikh Zayed International Airport in the Albanian city of Kukes late on Friday.

Present at the event were Albanian Deputy Prime Minister Ilir Meta, Interior Minister Lulzim Basha, UAE Ambassador to Greece and Non-Resident Ambassador to Albania Abdul Hadi Abdul Wahid Al Khaja, Director of European Affairs at the UAE Foreign Ministry Mohammed Saif Hilal Al Shihi, senior Albanian officials and scores Albanian citizens.

Upon arriving, Shaikh Abdullah said: “I was very sad when I visited this city 11 years ago. I kept remembering smiles on the faces of people here despite the hardship they faced during that time.”

“We, in the UAE, are proud of our relations with Albania, and of our brothers the Albanians. We hope to see these relations developing and growing and we wish your country further progress and prosperity. The same wish goes to your neighbours in Kosovo.”

Shaikh Abdullah expressed the hope that the Shaikh Zayed International Airport in Kukes will serve as a symbol for the strong relations between the two countries.

“This Airport shall bear for ever the name of a great world personality, as Shaikh Zayed was and remains by virtue of his work; it was thanks to his personal engagement that the Kukes Aerodrome adjusted at that time to carry humanitarian aids directly from UAE in Kukes has become an airport of international standards,” Meta said.

“Bearing the name of His Highness, Shaikh Zayed, this Airport shall be an exceptional monument for life; it will not only bring to memory this extraordinary generosity by Emirates during a hard time for the Albanian people and our nation; it will also be made available for the community there and for the further strengthening of bonds among Albania, Kosovo and UAE,” he added.

A film on the life of the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was shown during the ceremony. Shaikh Abdullah then toured the airport’s departure and arrival terminals, control tower and runway.

Construction of the $22 million Kukes international airport started in 2003. It has a 1,900-metre runway, with a control tower, an air navigation facility, an integral fire brigade building and stores. —