- The United Arab Emirates and the Hellenic Republic have enjoyed strong and longstanding diplomatic relations, underpinned by a shared commitment to expanding cooperation across various sectors.
- Over the years, the United Arab Emirates and the Hellenic Republic have signed more than 60 agreements and memoranda of understanding, reflecting the steady growth and diversification of their partnership across economic, political, cultural, technological, and strategic fields.
- The United Arab Emirates inaugurated its Embassy in Athens in November 2008, while the Hellenic Republic opened its Embassy in Abu Dhabi in 1989.
- Joint Committees between the Two Countries:
- First Joint Committee: 11 January 2012, Athens
- Second Joint Committee: 5–6 May 2014, Athens
- Third Joint Committee: 3–4 May 2017, Athens
- Strategic Partnership (2020):
In 2020, the United Arab Emirates and the Hellenic Republic exchanged a Joint Statement establishing a Strategic Partnership, alongside a Memorandum of Cooperation on Foreign and Defence Policies. The Strategic Partnership aims to further enhance bilateral relations and promote joint initiatives in areas of mutual interest, including political cooperation, development, and international humanitarian affairs. It also provides a framework for strengthening political dialogue, deepening strategic consultations, and enhancing coordination on regional and international issues of shared concern.
The UAE and the Hellenic Republic maintain strong and steadily expanding economic relations, reinforced by a comprehensive strategic partnership that continues to develop and expand into new, future-oriented sectors. The two countries have built a diversified and resilient economic relationship, with a clear focus on innovation, investment, and sustainable growth.
Bilateral cooperation covers a wide range of sectors, including energy, real estate, infrastructure, tourism, aviation, and financial services, while increasingly expanding into high-value technology domains such as artificial intelligence, data centers, digital infrastructure, and fintech. This reflects the shared ambition to align economic transformation strategies, particularly in areas linked to digitalization and the green transition.
Recent developments, including the agreement on AI and digital cooperation, as well as ongoing Emirati investments in Greece’s data infrastructure ecosystem, highlight the growing emphasis on the digital economy as a core pillar of bilateral relations.
The partnership remains closely aligned with the UAE’s long-term economic vision and Greece’s development strategy, with both sides actively seeking to expand cooperation into emerging technologies, smart infrastructure, renewable energy, circular economy solutions, and sustainable investment platforms.
- UAE exports to Greece surged to $115.5 million in 2025, up 90% from $60.8 million in 2024.
- Greek exports to the UAE stood at $350.4 million in 2025, down 15% from $413.2 million in 2024, while re-exports from the UAE to Greece rose significantly to $169.9 million, up roughly 36% from the previous year.
- In 2024, net foreign direct investment inflows from the United Arab Emirates to Greece surged to approximately €1.89 billion, according to Bank of Greece data, marking one of the highest levels of UAE investment activity in the country and reflecting the deepening strategic economic relationship between the two states.
Cultural relations constitute an important pillar of the UAE–Greece Strategic Partnership. In recent years, cooperation in the fields of culture, heritage, arts, and literature has continued to expand, reflecting the strong historical ties between the two countries and their shared commitment to promoting intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding. Through a range of joint initiatives and cultural exchanges, both countries have strengthened people-to-people connections and enhanced cooperation in preserving and promoting their rich cultural heritage.
Key Milestones in Cultural Cooperation
- Sharjah as Guest of Honour at the Thessaloniki International Book Fair (2024): In 2024, the Emirate of Sharjah was selected as Guest of Honour at the Thessaloniki International Book Fair, marking an important milestone in the UAE’s cultural engagement with Greece. The participation strengthened the presence of Emirati and Arab culture in Greece and supported cooperation in the fields of publishing, translation, literature, and cultural dialogue between the Arab and European worlds.
- United Arab Emirates as Guest of Honour at the Thessaloniki International Fair (2022): In 2022, the United Arab Emirates became the first Arab country to be designated Guest of Honour at the Thessaloniki International Fair. The participation provided a comprehensive showcase of the UAE’s cultural heritage, development achievements, and national identity, attracting considerable interest from Greek and international audiences.
- UAE–Greece Cultural Week (Athens, 2018): The first UAE–Greece Cultural Week, held in Athens in 2018, marked a significant milestone in bilateral cultural relations. Organized by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Greece in cooperation with Zayed University, the Greek Ministry of Digital Policy, Telecommunications and Media, and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the event featured exhibitions showcasing Emirati heritage and traditional social life, a joint Emirati–Greek art exhibition, academic and cultural discussions, as well as the first screening of the Emirati film Shabab Sheyab in Greek cinemas. Traditional Emirati folk performances were also presented, contributing to greater cultural exchange and public engagement.
In this context, the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Athens continues to support joint cultural initiatives and expand cooperation between cultural and academic institutions in both countries, in line with the objectives of the UAE–Greece Strategic Partnership and the shared aspiration to further strengthen the bonds of friendship, cultural exchange, and mutual understanding between the two peoples.
This interactive page provides Emirati travelers with personalized travel guidance and essential entry requirements based on their selected destination. Through a user-friendly map interface, travelers can quickly access important information, understand destination-specific regulations and requirements, and prepare confidently for their international journey.
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