The United Arab Emirates and the Commonwealth of Australia have enjoyed strong and steadily expanding bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1975.
The UAE opened its Embassy in Canberra in 1997, followed by the opening of the Australian Embassy in Abu Dhabi in 1999, and shortly thereafter the Australian Consulate-General in Dubai.
Over the past five decades, the bilateral relationship has evolved into a comprehensive partnership spanning a wide range of sectors, including trade and investment, education, defense, energy, innovation, food security, and cultural exchange. This cooperation is further strengthened by close people-to-people ties, with more than 25,000 Australian nationals living and working in the UAE, while thousands of UAE nationals travel to Australia each year for education and other purposes. Sister-city agreements between Abu Dhabi and Brisbane, and Dubai and the Gold Coast, have also strengthened cooperation and the exchange of expertise between local governments in both countries.
The year 2024 marked a significant milestone in bilateral relations with the official visit of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, to Australia. The visit culminated in the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), establishing a comprehensive framework to advance bilateral trade, investment, and economic cooperation.
In 2025, The Hon. Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia, paid an official visit to the United Arab Emirates. During the visit, the two countries announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership, reflecting the depth of their longstanding ties and their shared commitment to expanding cooperation across areas of mutual interest.
The United Arab Emirates and Australia enjoy a dynamic and expanding economic partnership, underpinned by broad cooperation in trade, investment, innovation, transport, aviation, and close collaboration between the public and private sectors. Established in 2017, the UAE–Australia Joint Economic Committee serves as the principal platform for advancing bilateral trade, investment, and private-sector cooperation. It also functions as the high-level mechanism for overseeing the implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, both of which entered into force on October 1, 2025. These landmark agreements are Australia's first trade agreements with a Middle Eastern country and the fastest trade agreement negotiated by Australia, creating a comprehensive framework to liberalize trade in goods and services and promote two-way investment.
Even prior to the entry into force of the CEPA, the UAE was Australia's largest trade and investment partner in the Middle East. Under the Agreement, the UAE eliminated tariffs on more than 99 percent of Australian exports, contributing to a 36.6 percent increase in Australia's non-oil exports to the UAE, which reached USD 4.6 billion. Key Australian exports include alumina, meat, dairy products, oilseeds, seafood, steel, and higher education services. During the same period, the UAE's non-oil exports to Australia increased by 63.3 percent to USD 844.3 million, led by fertilizers and industrial and precious metals. Overall, bilateral non-oil trade grew from USD 4.2 billion in 2024 to USD 5.8 billion in 2025, representing an increase of 37.8 percent. Australian exports are also projected to increase by approximately AUD 678 million annually under the Agreement.
Investment ties continue to strengthen. Between 2021 and 2025, UAE investment in Australia reached USD 648.8 million, while Australian investment in the UAE totaled USD 597.2 million. The UAE also welcomed more than 330,000 Australian visitors in 2025, while Emirates and Etihad Airways currently operate 76 weekly flights between the two countries, further strengthening connectivity and supporting business and tourism.
The UAE offers Australian businesses a competitive gateway to regional and global markets, with approximately 300 Australian companies operating across a wide range of sectors. Among the leading Australian companies with a presence in the UAE are Barrenjoey and Chemist Warehouse.
UAE companies also play a significant role in Australia's economy. DP World operates container terminals at four major Australian ports and has announced a AUD 400 million joint investment to expand the rail terminal at Port Botany. Its operations contribute approximately AUD 6.4 billion to Australia's GDP and support more than 23,000 jobs. dnata is Australia's only fully integrated aviation services provider, operating across seven airports, while Emirates and Etihad Airways continue to strengthen air connectivity between the two countries. In addition, Tadweer Group, in partnership with Tribe Infrastructure Group, is developing the Parkes Energy Recovery Facility in New South Wales, with an expected investment of AUD 1.5 billion, representing the first direct investment project resulting from the UAE–Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
The United Arab Emirates and Australia share strong cultural and educational ties that promote mutual understanding and friendship between their peoples. Through cultural exchange and academic cooperation, the two countries continue to build connections, share knowledge, and create opportunities for collaboration, spanning cultural initiatives, engagement in the arts, and educational links through universities and students studying abroad.
Engagement in contemporary art provides another avenue for cultural exchange. Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi’s appointment as Artistic Director of the 25th Biennale of Sydney in 2026 created opportunities for collaboration with Australian artists, academics, and local communities, drawing on her experience in promoting artistic dialogue internationally.
Education is a significant component of bilateral relations, supported by Emirati students pursuing their studies in Australia and the presence of Australian universities in the UAE, including the University of Wollongong, Murdoch University, and Curtin University. These institutional links contribute to the exchange of knowledge and expertise and expand access to higher education.
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.
- View destination-specific visa and entry requirements.
- Access the latest travel guidance and important alerts.
- Review passport, health, and required documentation requirements.
- Prepare for international travel using reliable and relevant guidance.
This interactive page provides non-UAE citizens with clear and accessible information about visa requirements for entering the United Arab Emirates. Users can search for their country or nationality and quickly determine whether they are eligible for visa-free entry or are required to obtain a visa before travelling, helping them plan their visit and complete the necessary arrangements in advance.
- Search for visa information by country or nationality.
- Check whether entry to the UAE is visa-free or requires a visa.
- View country-specific visa eligibility information.
- Prepare the required travel and visa arrangements before departure.
