The United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Norway established diplomatic relations on February 11, 1974. Since then, bilateral relations have developed steadily across political, economic, and cultural fields, supported by regular high-level exchanges and expanding institutional cooperation.
Diplomatic ties have continued to strengthen through the establishment of resident diplomatic missions. Norway opened its Embassy in the United Arab Emirates in 1994, while the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates to the Kingdom of Norway was inaugurated in Oslo in June 2014. H.E. Fatema Khamis Almazrouei presented her credentials to His Majesty King Harald V as Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Kingdom of Norway on January 19, 2023.
High-level visits have played an important role in advancing bilateral cooperation. The official visit of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, to Norway in October 2024 further strengthened bilateral relations. The visit also witnessed the exchange of several agreements to enhance cooperation in aviation, higher education, and sustainable development.
The official visit of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, to Norway in June 2016 contributed to expanding cooperation in political dialogue, investment, renewable energy, and development assistance.
The two countries maintain a Memorandum of Understanding on visa exemption arrangement for holders of ordinary passports. In addition, Emirates has operated daily direct flights between Dubai and Oslo since September 2014, further facilitating tourism, trade, investment, and business exchanges.
Economic relations continue to expand, with approximately 150 Norwegian companies operating in the UAE across strategic sectors, including oil and gas, maritime services, renewable energy, advanced technology, information and communications technology (ICT), and the food industry. The UAE's competitive business environment continues to attract Norwegian investment, while Norwegian expertise contributes to several strategic sectors in support of the UAE's economic diversification agenda.
As of 2026, the United Arab Emirates has formally acceded to the Svalbard Treaty pursuant to Federal Decree No. 125 of 2025, becoming one of its contracting parties. This enables the UAE to participate in scientific research and other treaty-permitted activities in the Svalbard archipelago on the same basis as other contracting parties, while Norway retains full sovereignty over the territory.
Recent developments reflect an increasing focus on climate cooperation, the green transition, innovation, sustainability, and economic diversification, underscoring the depth and resilience of the bilateral partnership and the shared commitment of both countries to advancing sustainable development.
