The United Arab Emirates has accepted the credentials of Abdul Rahman Fida, a Taliban-appointed diplomat, as Consul General of Afghanistan in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, according to a statement by the UAE foreign ministry.
According to the statement, Sheikh Maktoum bin Butti Al Maktoum, Director of the Ministry’s Dubai office, received Fida’s consular credentials during a meeting.
The UAE did not refer to the Taliban by name in the announcement, instead identifying Fida as the representative of the “Islamic Republic of Afghanistan” — the name used by the former Afghan government prior to the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021.
Fida’s acceptance comes as the Taliban continue to seek international legitimacy more than three years after reclaiming power. While no country has officially recognized the Taliban administration, several states, including Qatar, China, Russia, and the UAE have allowed Taliban-appointed envoys to operate unofficially or in a limited capacity.
