Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan - UAE Relationships

The United Arab Emirates and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan share deep-rooted and longstanding relations built on mutual trust, a shared sense of purpose, continuous coordination, and close cooperation across a wide range of fields. The foundations of these strong fraternal ties were laid by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his brother, the late His Majesty King Hussein bin Talal, whose visionary leadership established a lasting partnership based on solidarity, cooperation, and integration between the two brotherly countries. This relationship was reflected early on through the establishment of diplomatic relations, the opening of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Amman in July 1973, and the appointment of H.E. Dr. Sheikh Faisal bin Khalid Al Qasimi as the UAE’s first Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Today, these exceptional fraternal relations continue to flourish under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, and his brother, His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Their shared commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries has been reflected in sustained consultation and close coordination, as well as a strong alignment on regional, Arab, Islamic, and humanitarian issues. This enduring partnership underscores the two countries' shared vision in regional and international forums and their joint commitment to promoting peace, security, and stability, advancing the peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue and diplomacy, and serving the interests of the two brotherly peoples while contributing to the prosperity and stability of the region.

The United Arab Emirates and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan share a robust and expanding economic and investment partnership that reflects the strength of the strategic relationship between the two brotherly countries. A broad framework of bilateral agreements, memoranda of understanding, and cooperation protocols across the trade, economic, and investment sectors continues to strengthen this partnership, fostering greater trade, encouraging investment, and advancing sustainable economic growth in support of the two countries' shared interests.

The United Arab Emirates is among Jordan's leading trading partners. Non-oil bilateral trade has exceeded USD 4.2 billion, making Jordan the UAE's third-largest Arab trading partner outside the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The UAE is also the largest foreign investor in Jordan, with cumulative investments estimated at approximately USD 23 billion as of 2026. Emirati investments span a wide range of strategic sectors, including renewable energy, technology, tourism, real estate, transportation, manufacturing, and the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Economic cooperation entered a new phase with the entry into force of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on May 15, 2025. As the UAE's first CEPA with an Arab country under its Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement program, the agreement has created new opportunities to expand bilateral trade and investment. This momentum was further advanced by the signing of the implementation agreement for the Aqaba Port Railway Project, valued at USD 2.3 billion, and the establishment of a joint Emirati-Jordanian company to develop and operate the railway. The project will connect the Kingdom's principal mining areas in Al Shidiya and Ghor Al Safi with the Port of Aqaba, facilitating the transport of approximately 16 million metric tons of phosphate and potash annually while further strengthening Jordan's position as a regional hub for logistics and mining.

The United Arab Emirates and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan share a rich cultural heritage that forms a strong foundation for their cultural and educational relations. Rooted in common traditions, Bedouin heritage, poetry, proverbs, customs, and shared social values, these longstanding cultural ties have fostered enduring people-to-people connections and strengthened mutual understanding between the two brotherly countries.

Building on this shared heritage, cultural cooperation continues to expand across a wide range of fields. The United Arab Emirates actively participates in Jordan's leading cultural, artistic, and literary events, including the Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts, as well as poetry festivals, literary forums, and national celebrations held throughout the Kingdom.

UAE cultural initiatives have also contributed significantly to Jordan's cultural landscape. Notable examples include the Arab Reading Challenge, the Digital School, and the Bel Arabi initiative. In 2015, the House of Poetry was established in Mafraq as a joint Emirati-Jordanian cultural institution under the initiative of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to establish Houses of Poetry across the Arab world. In addition, the Sharjah Department of Culture organizes the annual Sharjah Cultural Forum in Jordan, honoring distinguished Jordanian writers and intellectuals while promoting cultural exchange and intellectual dialogue between the two countries.

Education is another cornerstone of the bilateral partnership. The United Arab Emirates places high priority on investing in human capital as a driver of sustainable development. This commitment is reflected in its scholarship programs, through which many Emirati students have pursued higher education in Jordan, whose universities are recognized for their academic excellence. Ongoing collaboration and the exchange of academic expertise between educational and cultural institutions in both countries continue to strengthen bilateral relations and underscore the important role of cultural and educational cooperation in advancing the strategic partnership between the two brotherly nations.