Arab leaders congratulate Biden, say they look forward to working with new administration
Congratulations came pouring in as the inauguration ceremony wrapped up on Wednesday

Leaders from the Arab world weighed in to congratulate America’s new president, Joseph R. Biden, after he was inaugurated on Wednesday and offered to work closely with the new administration.
Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the U.S. Reema Bandar Al-Saud, who attended the ceremony, noted the historic significance of the inauguration with a tweet picturing the first female, Black and Asian Vice President Kamala Harris and another of First Lady Jill Biden.
Congratulations to @POTUS Joe Biden and @VP Kamala Harris. It was an honour to witness this historic inauguration. pic.twitter.com/q2VR68yJqP
— Reema Bandar Al-Saud (@rbalsaud) January 20, 2021
Jordan’s ambassador to the United States, Dina Kawar, also attended the ceremony.
“We are about to mark 71 years of a solid alliance and friendship between our two countries,” Kawar said. “This longstanding strategic relationship continues to grow stronger with every US administration. It is my honor and privilege to represent Jordan on this day. We are looking forward to continuing our important work and wishing the new administration great success.”
King Abdullah also weighed in on Twitter, saying he valued the two countries’ friendship.
Warmest congratulations to @POTUS @JoeBiden on his inauguration today. We highly value our strategic partnership and enduring friendship with the United States, and we look forward to working with you in pursuit of global peace and prosperity
— عبدالله بن الحسين (@KingAbdullahII) January 20, 2021
Warm greetings came as well from the United Arab Emirates as President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan wished Biden “success and expressed hope that the two countries would deepen their decades-long partnership in working together on pressing challenges such as global health, climate change, and violent extremism.”
He also noted the working relationship that Biden and the UAE enjoyed when he was in the Senate and as vice president.
Other UAE officials also sent their congratulations.
Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba congratulates @POTUS Joe Biden on his inauguration as the 46th US President. The UAE looks forward to working together on pressing challenges like global health, climate change and violent extremism. #UAEUSA
UAE statement: https://t.co/QzMehJ8Stj
— UAE Embassy US (@UAEEmbassyUS) January 20, 2021
Not far from the UAE, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa sent a cable of congratulations to Biden “wishing him good health, happiness and success in his presidential duties to lead the friendly American people to achieve further progress and prosperity.”
“HM the King expressed deep pride in the longstanding historic relations and solid partnership spanning 120 years, based on strong friendship and mutual respect,” according to the Bahrain News Agency. “HM the King looked forward to further consolidating strategic relations binding the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United States of America and bolstering joint cooperation and coordination, towards strengthening common interests between the two friendly countries and peoples in all fields.”
Nechirvan Idris Barzani, the second President of the Kurdistan Region, also sent a tweet of congratulations.
On behalf of the Kurdistan Region, I would like to congratulate President @JoeBiden and Vice President @kamalaHarris on their historic inauguration. I wish them success in leading the American people and look forward to working with our friends in the new administration.
— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) January 20, 2021
Some leaders seemed just as happy to see Donald Trump leave office as they were to welcome Biden.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani hailed the departure of “tyrant” Trump, who imposed heavy sanctions on Iran because of its nuclear weapons program.
“We expect (the Biden administration) to return to law and to commitments, and try in the next four years, if they can, to remove the stains of the past four years,” said Rouhani.
And Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas congratulated Biden on assuming the presidency of the United States and Vice President Kamala Harris, wishing them success in facing the big challenges ahead.
“We look forward to working together for peace and stability in the region and the world,” Abbas said in his letter of congratulation to Biden, according to the Palestinian Wafa news agency.
“The President affirmed his readiness for ‘a comprehensive and just peace process that would achieve the aspirations of the Palestinian people in freedom and independence,'” the agency reported.