Canada - UAE Relationships

The United Arab Emirates and Canada enjoy a longstanding bilateral relationship spanning more than five decades, founded on mutual respect, a shared commitment to constructive partnership, and close cooperation across a broad range of fields. The two countries work together to advance shared priorities, including women's empowerment, environmental sustainability, international development, innovation, food security, and the promotion of regional and international peace and security.

Diplomatic relations between the United Arab Emirates and Canada were established in 1974 and have continued to grow steadily ever since. Canada opened its Embassy in Abu Dhabi in 1987, followed by the establishment of its Consulate General in Dubai in 1993. The United Arab Emirates inaugurated its Embassy in Ottawa in 1999, completing reciprocal diplomatic representation and marking an important milestone in the development of bilateral relations.

Over the years, UAE–Canada cooperation has expanded across the political, economic, security, cultural, and educational spheres, while trade, investment, and people-to-people ties have continued to deepen. This enduring partnership reflects the shared commitment of both countries to further strengthening bilateral relations, advancing mutual interests, and promoting sustainable development, stability, progress, and prosperity for the benefit of both friendly nations.

Economic cooperation is a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship between the United Arab Emirates and Canada, spanning a range of priority sectors, including energy, infrastructure, clean technologies, food security, artificial intelligence, innovation, aviation, logistics, and advanced technologies.

The United Arab Emirates is Canada's largest export market in the Middle East and North Africa. In 2025, bilateral merchandise trade reached CAD 3.5 billion. The same year marked a significant milestone in the economic relationship when, in November, the United Arab Emirates announced its intention to invest CAD 70 billion in the Canadian market. The announcement was widely welcomed in Canada as a reflection of the growing depth of UAE investment and increasing confidence in the Canadian economy. Coinciding with this announcement, the two countries signed the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, which entered into force on May 19, 2026. The Agreement provides a robust institutional framework for bilateral investment by enhancing investor confidence and fostering a more transparent, predictable, and stable investment environment.

The United Arab Emirates is also among the leading investors in Canada, with investments estimated at approximately USD 30 billion across a diverse range of sectors. Nearly two-thirds of these investments are concentrated in the oil and natural gas sector, led by the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA). At the same time, many leading Canadian companies have maintained a longstanding presence in the United Arab Emirates, investing billions of dollars across key sectors, including energy, manufacturing, agri-food industries, healthcare, education, financial services, and tourism.

Growing partnerships in civil aviation continue to further strengthen economic ties between the two countries. This includes the expansion of the codeshare agreement between Emirates and Air Canada, providing travelers with greater connectivity across both airlines' global networks. In addition, Etihad Airways continues to operate direct services between Abu Dhabi and Toronto and has announced the launch of a new route connecting Abu Dhabi with Calgary, scheduled to commence operations in November 2026. These developments are expected to further facilitate travel, trade, investment, and commercial exchange between the United Arab Emirates and Canada.

The cultural cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and Canada is evidence of the importance of culture in deepening the relationships between societies in the East and West. Partnerships in the fields of education, art exhibitions, film festivals, and literary events have enabled both countries to explore their cultural heritage and enhance mutual understanding and respect for each other's values and principles.

In this context, the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Canada constantly strives to enhance cultural exchange between the two countries, especially in the field of education. Recent years have seen an increase in the number of Canadian universities and other educational institutions that have opened branches in the United Arab Emirates. Moreover, recent years have seen a rise in the number of Emirati students pursuing their studies in Canadian colleges and universities. This uptick is attributed to programs designed to immerse students within a diverse community, thereby enhancing the principles of coexistence, an appreciation for diversity, and respect for various cultures.

Interestingly, cooperation in the fields of arts, heritage preservation, and translation has strengthened the cultural links between the UAE and Canada, particularly through events organized by the embassy such as: the 1st Arab Poetry Festival in Canada (Soulful Recitations: Celebrating Arabic Poetry in Canada) , in cooperation with the Dubai Culture and the University of Waterloo. In addition, the Embassy organized the Emirati Heritage Day, which showcases the most important events and Emirati traditions, with the participation of UAE traditional art bands and Emirati artists.

Looking forward, the dynamic relationship between the United Arab Emirates and Canada in the field of cultural cooperation is set to inspire more creative collaborations. There is immense potential for joint ventures in art projects, film production, and digital cultural exchanges, with technology playing a crucial role in broadening the scope and impact of these endeavors. As both countries venture into new areas of collaboration, their continued cultural engagement serves as a shining example of international friendship and a model for cultural diplomacy.