The United Arab Emirates and the Swiss Confederation enjoy longstanding ties of friendship and cooperation, founded on mutual respect and shared interests. These relations continue to develop across political, economic, investment, tourism, and cultural fields. Dating back to the early years of the UAE’s establishment under the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, bilateral ties have expanded over the decades to encompass a broad range of cooperation.
The UAE–Switzerland partnership is underpinned by a comprehensive framework of agreements and memoranda of understanding that support and facilitate cooperation across various sectors. Key agreements include the Agreement on the Promotion and Protection of Investments (1999), the Air Transport Agreement (1999), the Visa Exemption Agreement for Holders of Diplomatic, Special, and Service Passports (2010), the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (2011), and the Free Trade Agreement between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states (2014), alongside the Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of a Joint Economic Committee (JEC) (2026).
Economic and tourism ties are also important elements of the bilateral relationship. The UAE serves as a regional hub for Swiss companies in the Middle East, while Switzerland is a prominent destination for Emirati travelers. Regular flights operated by UAE and Swiss airlines strengthen travel, tourism, and trade, while supporting closer connections between the two countries’ business communities and peoples.
