UAE Foreign Policy
The UAE is a champion of dialogue, cooperation, stability, and prosperity, and stands as a vital bridge between nations.
Guided by the vision of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the UAE is committed to building constructive partnerships that advance mutual understanding, promote sustainable development, and drive economic prosperity.
Since its founding, the UAE has forged robust relations with countries across the globe, grounded in openness, trust, and constructive cooperation. Motivated by the shared goals of international peace, stability, and development, the UAE continues to serve as a facilitator of diplomatic dialogue and actively supports global efforts to promote peace, prosperity, and the well-being of communities worldwide.
The UAE’s strategic vision is centered on four interconnected priorities: reinforcing international cooperation to foster enduring peace, driving economic prosperity and resilience, championing sustainability to protect our planet, and strengthening peaceful coexistence to ensure a stable and inclusive future for all. Together, these pillars reflect the UAE’s commitment to responsible leadership, global collaboration, and the pursuit of lasting progress.
The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) endeavors to advance this vision, ensuring people both in the UAE and beyond remain secure and thrive in an ever-changing regional and global landscape.
Vision
Through humanitarian action, sustainable development, and diplomacy, the UAE seeks to promote peace, strengthen resilience, and foster the values of tolerance and coexistence worldwide.
Built on a foundation of mutual respect and understanding, the UAE is home to more than 200 nationalities coexisting in peace and harmony. The UAE remains committed to inclusivity, nurturing constructive relationships both within and beyond its borders.
The UAE has an outstanding track record in ensuring the security and safety of its diverse population, encompassing citizens, residents, and visitors. This commitment to safety has consistently seen the UAE top the rankings for global indices, firmly establishing it as one of the most secure and desirable places to call home.
Over the next 50 years, the UAE will continue to invest in efforts to maintain its status as one of the best countries in the world to live and work in, based on its future-facing outlook, progressive legal reform, and commitment to sociocultural diversity.
Standing together with those who strive to build a better world, the UAE celebrates what unites us, advancing peace, stability, and the shared values that inspire global cooperation.
The UAE is a global leader in providing humanitarian assistance, alleviating suffering and protecting human dignity in times of crisis, natural disasters, and conflict. Through national entities such as UAE Aid agency and Dubai Humanitarian, and in collaboration with UN agencies and international organizations, the UAE prioritizes support for those who are most vulnerable, helping to build resilience in communities across the world.
UAE IN GAZA
- USD 2.96 billion of humanitarian assistance (since October 2023)
- More than 40% of all aid provided
- More than 117,300 tonnes of aid
- More than 2,961 Palestinians evacuated and treated in UAE hospitals
As a strategic bridge between East and West, North and South, the UAE champions global priorities and drives collective action on the climate crisis. As an early adopter of climate agreements, the UAE has a proven track record of leadership in climate innovation, renewable energy investment, and climate finance. Recognizing that complex challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, and preventable diseases demand innovative partnerships and pragmatic solutions, sustainability is embedded at the heart of the UAE’s approach. Through promoting climate action, fostering international cooperation, and advancing practical solutions, the UAE works to strengthen global solidarity and resilience in the face of shared environmental challenges.
Partnerships, development and growth
The UAE remains firmly committed to navigating evolving global dynamics and building diverse relationships through both traditional and emerging institutions, guided by a steadfast focus on advancing the welfare of its people and the broader international community.
MoFA works to strengthen ties and shape the global conversation through long-established forums, which aligns with the UAE’s deeply rooted commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, consolidating partnerships, and building on shared interests and strengths.
Taken together, these avenues of engagment underscore the UAE’s approach to multilateralism: bridging divides, facilitating global dialogue, building innovative partnerships and deepening cooperation with partners round the world to create a prosperous future for the youth and generations to come.
PROGRESS IN ACTION
- Abraham Accords: The signing of the Abraham Accords demonstrated the UAE’s belief that dialogue can lead to coexistence. Building on this foundation, the UAE continues to work with its regional and international partners to shape a stable, secure, and prosperous Middle East for future generations.
- Russia-Ukraine mediation: The UAE has actively facilitated prisoner exchanges and ceasefires in global conflict zones, reaffirming the country’s commitment to peace, dialogue, and diplomatic solutions. The UAE has been central to securing the release of more than 4,955 captives of war and has conducted 18 mediation efforts aimed at promoting a peaceful settlement to the Russia–Ukraine conflict.
- COP28: Through prioritizing dialogue over division, the UAE has emerged as a key convener on global challenges – a role underscored by its hosting of COP28 in Dubai, which culminated in the landmark UAE Consensus on climate action, which was signed by 198 nations in December 2023.
Prosperity
Aligned with a longstanding ambition to develop an increasingly resilient, dynamic, and knowledge-based economy, the UAE continues to invest in people and knowledge as the most powerful drivers of economic development and diversification. This includes partnering with nations and stakeholders around the world to facilitate trade and investment, promote sustainable growth and prosperity, and develop the social, educational, and entrepreneurial infrastructure that enables individuals and economies to thrive.
The UAE continues to expand its network of strategic partnerships around the world through Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs), reflecting its commitment to free trade, regional development, and sustainable economic growth.
Through its forward-looking approach to innovation, the UAE seeks to foster an investment ecosystem that pushes the frontiers of technological possibilities. The UAE’s approach to artificial intelligence, backed by strong national support and strong partnerships, underscores a firm commitment to reinforcing the country’s position as a leading partner in technological innovation.
As the UAE considers artificial intelligence a cornerstone of humanity’s future, the country is actively accelerating innovation to enhance productivity and drive significant advancements in the global economy, with a strong commitment to developing responsible and inclusive AI for the benefit of all.
The UAE plays a leading role in shaping international AI governance for the global good and supports the country’s vision that technology can be used to lift millions out of poverty and enhance global prosperity. Collaboration with international partners is at the forefront of this mission, strengthening the UAE’s capabilities and helping to seize emerging opportunities in this fast-evolving sector.
UAE IN AFRICA (2024)
- The UAE is one of the largest trade and investment partners in Africa. Its bilateral trade in 2024 reached approximately USD 107 billion, marking a 28% increase from 2023. Additionally, UAE investments in Africa amounted to approximately USD 144 billion between 2020 and 2024.
- The African continent is a key focus of UAE foreign aid, accounting for 40% of the country’s total overseas assistance over the past ten years, which amounts to approximately USD 20.9 billion, including both development and humanitarian aid.
The UAE’s longstanding engagement and strategic position enable it to amplify voices from the Global South, particularly Africa, where it stands as one of the largest foreign investors – as evidenced by the $1 billion AI Development in Africa program. The UAE’s investments underscore its commitment to the continent’s sustained progress and development.
Today, the UAE stands as one of the most dynamic and influential players globally, advancing international prosperity through a collaborative and inclusive approach, supported by its ambitious approach to foreign policy, for the benefit of its people and economy.
