His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, on Monday received Barbara Eibinger-Miedl, State Minister of Science and Economy in Austria's State of Styria, at Qasr Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi.

Eibinger-Miedl is on a visit to the UAE to witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding, MoU, between the local organising committees of the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi and the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria, which took place earlier on Monday, and to attend the WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017, currently being held in Abu Dhabi.

The meeting witnessed discussions on bilateral ties between the UAE and Austria and ways to enhance them.

Sheikh Mohamed discussed means of expanding co-operation between the two organising committees of the 2017 and 2019 Special Olympics Games, to be held in Austria and Abu Dhabi respectively, as well as exchanging expertise in organising such sports events.

He lauded the signing of the MoU and hoped for the success of such events in creating a healthier world for people with special needs and people with intellectual disabilities.

Sheikh Mohamed and Eibinger-Miedl also discussed the activities of the WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017 and the importance of this event in building skills and sourcing talents among the students.

The Austrian state minister was accompanied by Markus Pichler, Chief Executive Officer of Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria, Dr. Andreas Libermann, Ambassador of Austria to the UAE and a number of Austrian officials.

The meeting was attended by H.H. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region; H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Mohammed Al Nahyan; H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation; H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; H.H. Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court; H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; H.H. Sheikh Omar bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development.