T&T Minister’s Mosque Tour Signals Cultural Diplomacy

Sean Sobers, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi on 27 November 2025, accompanied by senior officials from his country. The delegation was guided through the mosque’s grand halls and outer corridors and received a detailed briefing about the mosque’s founding and overarching cultural mission, founded on principles of coexistence and tolerance. During the visit Sobers and his team were introduced to the mosque’s architectural splendour and its Islamic art collections, exploring the fusion of stylistic influences that reflect a rich tradition of cultural convergence. At the end of the visit the minister was presented with the book titled “Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: Lights of Peace,” a volume showcasing the mosque’s architectural artistry via a selection of prize-winning photographs from the “Spaces of Light” competition.

The visit follows a high-level diplomatic meeting held a day earlier between Sobers and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, where both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations across multiple sectors. The UAE side emphasised the depth of ties between the two nations and the mutual desire to expand cooperation for economic growth and sustainable development. At that meeting, attended by senior ministers including Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi and an envoy for Caribbean and Pacific states, both delegations reviewed regional and global issues of shared interest, indicating a broad agenda beyond cultural exchange.

Analysts suggest that Sobers’ tour of such a prominent religious and cultural landmark carries symbolic weight, especially following the landmark agreement signed in September that established visa-free travel between citizens of the UAE and Trinidad and Tobago. That accord, inked at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly and witnessed by both countries’ leadership, is viewed as part of a broader push to strengthen diplomatic and people-to-people ties. Under those new travel provisions, citizens from each country may now travel more freely, potentially opening avenues for tourism, trade, and deeper intercultural engagement.

Observers note that the mosque visit underscores the UAE’s tradition of using cultural diplomacy as a bridge to foster understanding and build goodwill among diverse nations. For Trinidad and Tobago — a Caribbean country with its own complex cultural tapestry — the visit presents an opportunity to reinforce its international outreach beyond traditional diplomatic avenues, signalling openness to cross-cultural dialogue and exchange.