The robust EU-UAE ties are rooted in history and share a vision for the future

Sheikh Zayed in Paris, on March 7, 1975. The UAE has longstanding relations with several EU member states. Getty

This year marks the 10th anniversary of diplomatic presence of the EU in the UAE. While our formal EU-UAE relationship is relatively recent, our shared history goes back much further, through the longstanding relations between the UAE and the EU member states. In the past decade, we have built on that foundation, fostering a deeper mutual understanding of our cultures, policies and the ways our strengths complement one another.

Today, bilateral relations are thriving. Economically, the UAE has grown to become the EU’s primary export destination and investment partner in the Mena region, as well as one of the EU’s top trading partners overall. This robust relationship is further reinforced by the strong presence of EU companies in the UAE across key sectors such as finance, energy, real estate, services and more. Moreover, about 200,000 Europeans who call the UAE home contribute daily to the nation’s economy, diversity and prosperity.

DP World's fully automated Terminal 2 at Jebel Ali Port in Dubai. The UAE is one of the EU’s top trading partners. Reuters

Obviously, this has not happened overnight, or even throughout this decade alone. It has developed over the course of several decades, thanks to the deeply rooted historical relationship between the Emirates and Europe, starting with the very first visit of UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, to Europe in August 1951.

Europeans were starting to build an economic union after the devastating Second World War, and the UAE was laying the groundwork for its phenomenal economic transformation. Seventy-three years later, the EU is a unique partnership between 27 European countries and home to about 450 million people. The UAE is a worldwide financial, trade and logistics hub and a key international player.

Sheikh Zayed on the Eiffel Tower in 1951

The EU and the UAE both seek a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict

Since I presented my credentials in October last year, I have witnessed a surge in high-level visits from EU leaders to the UAE. During this short period, I have welcomed several high-level delegations from Brussels, including European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, twice.

Bilateral relations might be thriving, but the region as a whole is facing one of its worst humanitarian and security crises. High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell recently said: “One year after the terrible attack against Israel, the situation is only getting worse. The people in the region are more insecure than ever and are caught in an unending cycle of violence, hatred, and revenge.” And our frequent exchanges, including at the highest level, show that our bilateral relationship is paramount for tackling these crises together.

Gravely concerned by the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, the EU has quadrupled its emergency assistance to €103 million ($112m) for the Palestinian people last year, while committing €275m in aid for this year. The UAE, meanwhile, has delivered the highest amount of humanitarian aid to Gaza since the conflict started.

The EU and the UAE both seek a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, reject the escalation of violence across the Middle East, and believe that no military solution will bring a future to Palestinians or Israelis. Our collaboration with the UAE and other partners will continue to ensure that support reaches those most affected by the crisis while we continue exploring ways to build on our respective capacities and experiences, to lay the groundwork for the day after, and hopefully build a sustainable peace and prosperity for the wider region. As the European experience shows, sustainable peace even after the most devastating war is possible; this is after all how the EU was built following two devastating wars in Europe.

In Europe, on the other hand, our security is also fundamentally affected by Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, and we are grateful to our partners in the region for their efforts to help resolve this conflict. The UAE has played a key role in mediation between Russia and Ukraine, resulting in the release of hundreds of captives and has contributed millions to support various humanitarian initiatives in Ukraine, underscoring its commitment to aiding those affected by the conflict.

Smoke rises after Israeli air strikes targeted Palestine Tower in Gaza city on October 7, 2023. EPA

Palestinians take control of an Israeli Merkava battle tank after crossing the border fence with Israel from Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. AFP

This video grab from footage released by the Israeli Hostage and Missing Families Forum campaign group on May 22 shows what the group described as Israeli female soldiers being captured by Palestinian Hamas militants during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. AFP

Smoke rises following an Israeli air strike in Gaza city on October 9, 2023. EPA

A rocket is launched from the coastal Gaza strip towards Israel by militants of the Ezz Al-Din Al Qassam militia, the military wing of Hamas movement, in Gaza city. EPA

Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the city of Ashkelon, Israel, on October 9, 2023. Reuters

Lightning strikes as smoke billows following an Israeli air strike in Gaza city on October 9, 2023. AFP

An Israeli artillery unit fires at an area along the border with Gaza, southern Israel, on October 11, 2023. EPA

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish people carry their belongings before boarding a ship for US nationals and their immediate family members, as they leave Israel headed for Cyprus. Reuters

Palestinian youths take cover behind a rubbish container as they clash with Israeli forces at the northern entrance of the West Bank city of Ramallah near the Israeli settlement of Beit El on October 20, 2023. AFP

A man mourns as he attends a funeral of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 24, 2023. Reuters

A man holds a child, survivors of Israeli bombardment, as they are treated at a trauma ward at Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 24, 2023. AFP

People search for survivors and the bodies of victims through the rubble of buildings destroyed during Israeli bombardment in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 26, 2023. AFP

Anti-war protesters raise their 'bloody' hands behind US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on President Biden's $106 billion national security supplemental funding request to support Israel and Ukraine, as well as bolster border security, on Capitol Hill in Washington on October 31, 2023. Reuters

Palestinians run for cover after a strike near the Al Shifa hospital in Gaza city on November 1, 2023. AFP

Palestinian children run as they flee from Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on November 6, 2023. AFP

An injured Palestinian woman covered in dust and blood hugs an injured girl child at the hospital following the Israeli bombardment of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on November 15, 2023. AFP

Hostages released by Hamas Gal, left, and Tal Almog-Goldstein, second left, stand in a bus transporting them to an army base in Ofakim in southern Israel after they were released by the Palestinian militant group from the Gaza Strip on November 26, 2023. AFP

Palestinian boys stand in their makeshift tent at a camp set up on a schoolyard in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip where most civilians have taken refuge, on December 13, 2023. AFP

Palestinians fleeing the north through the Salaheddin road in the Zeitoun district on the southern outskirts of Gaza city, walk past Israeli army tanks on November 24, 2023. AFP

In this picture taken during a media tour organised by the Israeli military on December 15, 2023, soldiers visit a tunnel that Hamas reportedly used to attack Israel through the Erez border crossing on October 7. AFP

Jewish protesters block the passage of aid trucks being sent to Gaza in Ashdod, Israel on February 1, 2024. Reuters

A man pulls water containers as he walks past destroyed buildings in Khan Younis on May 5, 2024. AFP

Relatives of Hanan Yablonka, one of the Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip since the October 7, 2023 attack by Palestinian Hamas militants, mourn during his funeral in Tel Aviv on May 26. AFP

Humanitarian aid packages land after being dropped from a plane in Al Mawasi district of Khan Younis, on May 30, 2024. Reuters

Palestinians attend Eid al-Adha prayer in Khan Younis town, southern Gaza strip, on June 16. EPA

Displaced Palestinians play football in Jabalia on July 23, 2024. AFP

Palestinians injured in an Israeli strike on a school ride on the back of a cart in Deir Al Balah on July 27, 2024. AFP

Palestinians gather to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in the northern Gaza Strip, September 11. Reuters

Palestinians survey the damage at the site of Israeli strikes on a displacement camp in Khan Younis on September 10, 2024. AFP

A medical staff member carries supplies through a destroyed section of Al Shifa hospital in Gaza city on September 17. AFP

People walk past makeshift graves in Gaza city on September 17. AFP

In Europe, we need a long-term solution as well, and to achieve that, we must strengthen co-operation with our partners in the region, similar to the collaboration we have on crises in the Middle East. This is essential for building a sustainable peace while respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.

Further, joint EU-UAE efforts can also play a pivotal role in de-escalating conflicts and stabilising areas like in Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Sudan. While we work on our parts in these multitudes of crises, we continue looking at the bigger picture and considering how a long-term, comprehensive solution can bring peace and stability to all. In the meantime, the EU and its member states remain committed to protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, particularly through the “Aspides” maritime operation.

We also continue building on our economic ties following our excellent collaboration before and during Cop28, which resulted in many opportunities for further joint work on climate action, green transition and sustainable energy. Other new initiatives include emerging areas such as AI where the EU is a leader in regulation, notably towards the safe use and trustworthiness of this new technology. Co-operation is also intensifying in other sectors such as innovation and research, education, women empowerment and people-to-people contacts. After all, let’s not forget that the UAE is the only country in the Gulf with a Schengen visa waiver.

Looking ahead, the first-ever EU-GCC Leaders Summit, which will take place on Wednesday in Brussels, represents another pivotal moment in our relationship with the UAE. This summit is not merely ceremonial; it signals a new era of collaboration in critical areas such as trade, energy, security and global development efforts.

Despite challenges ahead, I remain optimistic about the prospects of the region and the continued growth of EU-UAE relations. Our partnership is resilient and dynamic, capable of adapting to the evolving needs of our regions while maintaining a shared vision for a prosperous, secure and sustainable future.