Diplomatic & Political Relations:
- The diplomatic and political relations between the United Arab Emirates and Canada have witnessed steady growth and progress over the years, and since 1974, just three years after the union of the seven Emirates and the establishment of the country by the Founding President, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Government of Canada established non-resident diplomatic representation with the UAE.
- Canadian diplomatic representation in the UAE began in 1983, and the Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi was opened in 1987, followed by the inauguration of the Consulate General of Canada in Dubai in 1993.
- The exchange of diplomatic representation between the two countries was completed with the opening of UAE’s embassy in Canada’s capital city of Ottawa in 1999, and the scope of bilateral relations expanded with the opening in 2014 of the Consulate General of the United Arab Emirates in Toronto; the centre of finance, trade and business in Canada.
- Over the past decades, the diplomatic and political relations between the United Arab Emirates and Canada have witnessed continuous expansion and growth, cooperation on the basis of mutual respect, common interests, shared values, and joint cooperation within many international organizations, bodies and forums, in order to coordinate positions towards common interest issues.
- The UAE is proud of our two countries’ many shared values and joint commitments from the empowerment of women, to environmental sustainability and supporting the developing world.
- Among the factors that played a fundamental role in the further development and growth of these relations were the high-level exchange visits between the two countries, the common desire for coordination and cooperation to achieve economic prosperity, and support for regional and international security.
- This is in addition to the signing of multiple agreements and memoranda of understanding to strengthen bilateral cooperation, which extend from political consultations, to defense arrangements, cooperation in space, science, international development cooperation, and the use of nuclear energy for peaceful and civil purposes.
- There has also been an active exchange of government and private sector delegations, and participation in various spheres between the two countries, which reaffirms the continuation of consolidating diplomatic and political ties, and strengthens economic and bilateral cooperation, which has positioned the UAE as one of the most important trading partners for Canada, regionally and internationally.
Recent developments in bilateral relations between Canada and UASE
- The United Arab Emirates proposes a 9th round of negotiations of the United Arab Emirates-Canada Foreign Investment Promotion Agreement (FIPA), to take place from 13-14 March, 2024, in a virtual format
- The government of the United Arab Emirates has decided to present the candidature of Dr. Salah Obaid Al-Salami for Membership on the International Narcotics Control Board for the period 2025-230, with the elections to be held in April 2024 in New York.
- Emirates and Air Canada have expanded Codeshare partnership to include flights to and from Montreal, after the Dubai based carrier launched non-stop services to Quebec’s largest city in July.
