President Joko Widodo gets street named after him in Abu Dhabi

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has honored Indonesian President Joko Widodo by naming a street after him in the capital city of Abu Dhabi.

Previously named Al Ma’arid Street (meaning “exhibition” in English), President Joko Widodo Street is located in the center of the city, in an area occupied by a number of diplomatic offices.

Seruas jalan di Abu Dhabi, UEA, diresmikan sebagai Presiden Joko Widodo Street oleh Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman Abu Dhabi Executive Office.

Di balik nama jalan itu, ada harapan agar hubungan kedua negara semakin kokoh dan bermanfaat bagi rakyat. pic.twitter.com/pP6cTMp7VO

— Joko Widodo (@jokowi) October 20, 2020

The inauguration ceremony took place yesterday evening, as seen in a Facebook post by the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Abu Dhabi. The event was hosted by Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who chairs the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, the local authority of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It was also attended by officials from the KBRI, including the Indonesian Ambassador to UAE Husin Bagis, as well as local officials.

https://www.facebook.com/kbriabudhabi/posts/3845622552139251

KBRI Abu Dhabi said the street name celebrates “warmer” relations between the two countries, and that it serves as a tribute from the UAE government to Jokowi for advancing bilateral relations during his time in office.

Ambassador Husin said he hopes that the street name would further strengthen and enhance the relationship between UAE and Indonesia.

Jokowi isn’t the first Indonesian to be honored with a street name outside of Indonesia. A street in the Moroccan capital of Rabat is named after Indonesia’s first president Sukarno, while four cities in the Netherlands ⁠— namely the capital Amsterdam, Utrecht, Venlo, and Haarlem ⁠— have streets that bear the name of women’s rights heroine Raden Ajeng Kartini. Indonesia’s first vice president Mohammad Hatta also has a street named after him in Haarlem.

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