Spokesperson Kim Nam-joon said at a briefing on the 18th (local time) that it was a state summit that stood out for the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) utmost courtesy, noting that meticulous preparation could be felt throughout.
According to the briefing, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan personally arranged a Middle Eastern-style breakfast—such as a basket of vegetables, hummus, and cake—so that President Lee Jae-myung and first lady Kim Hea-kyung could eat. Lee mentioned this during the summit and expressed gratitude.
At the luncheon held after the summit, a menu using Korean ingredients was prepared. The UAE musical ensemble performed old Korean pop songs, including singer Na Hoon-a's "Crying over Bakdaljae" and Hye-eun I's "The Third Hangang Bridge." The Spokesperson explained, It is a song about Bakdaljae in North Chungcheong, the first lady's hometown, adding, Also, The Third Hangang Bridge was performed to symbolize a "bridge" between Korea and the UAE.
During the summit, President Mohammed also shared an anecdote that his late father, the founding president, chose a Korean company as the builder when constructing a bridge in Abu Dhabi. When Lee entered the presidential palace, the UAE side presented a 21-gun salute, an air show by the Air Force aerobatic team, and the traditional performance "Al Ayyalah." The Spokesperson said it was a very impressive courtesy.
Lee presented President Mohammed with a falcon sculpture. The falcon is a symbolic animal used in the UAE's national emblem and banknotes, and it is also the name of the UAE's representative Arabic large language model (LLM).
The presidential office said it also considered that President Mohammed enjoys falconry, adding that it was a gift embodying the insights of the two leaders, their dedication to their people, and a vision for moving into the future.
For President Mohammed's spouse, Lady Salama, they presented the traditional handcrafted "Nop-eun Na-yeham" (a mother-of-pearl lacquered box meaning "as pretty as a butterfly"), and for his mother, Lady Fatima, they presented "Gungjung Maeyeong" (a traditional floral-shaped jewelry craft).
The Spokesperson said that this evening the current tallest building, Dubai's Burj Khalifa, is scheduled to display a Taegeukgi banner illumination.
At the UAE's suggestion, Lee also met with workers from the Barakah nuclear power plant—symbolic of the two countries' cooperation on nuclear power—before the luncheon.
The UAE designated Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority, and Minister of State Maitha bint Salem Al Shamsi as "honor entourage" figures, arranging for them to accompany Lee's schedule during this state visit.
On the previous evening, the UAE also hoisted the largest Taegeukgi ever in front of the Ministry of Interior building and lit up the exteriors of major downtown landmark buildings—including the headquarters of ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company)—with lights in the shape of the Taegeukgi.