The Kingdom of Spain - UAE Relationships

Diplomatic relations were established between the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Spain on November 10, 1972, as the bilateral relations between the two countries witnessed a remarkable development since then and the UAE maintained its position as a major trading partner of the Kingdom of Spain in the Arab Gulf region, as well as the continued exchange of high-level visits between the two countries. 

And which culminated in the signing of several bilateral cooperation agreements in many fields: political, economic and cultural, which made the bilateral relations between the two countries characterized by depth and rapprochement at all levels. 

In this context, His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Hessa Al-Otaiba, the former ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Kingdom of Spain, during the year 2017-2018 a series of meetings with senior officials in the Spanish government to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries and exchange views on various issues of common interest at the international and regional levels.

 1) From the UAE side:

• - The visit of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and his meeting during this visit with His Majesty King Philip VI of the Kingdom of Spain and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain at that time, His Excellency Alfonso Dastis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives His Excellency Anna Pastor, and the President of the Senate His Excellency Pio Escudero. 
• The visit of His Excellency the UAE Minister of Energy, Engineer Suhail Muhammad Al Mazrouei, on more than one occasion, and his meeting in one of his official visits with His Excellency Marisa Pontella García, Minister of State for Spanish Trade, and His Excellency Sebastian Albia Amigo, Chairman of the National Committee for the Spanish Stock Market, in addition to attending Board of Directors meetings CEPSA, 100% owned by the Petroleum Investment Corporation (IPIC).
• The visit of His Excellency Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Head of the Hidayat International Center for Excellence in Combating Violent Extremism, and his meeting during this visit with His Excellency Enrique Mora Benabenti, Director General of Foreign Policy and Security at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and His Excellency Elena Jometh Castro, Director General of Spanish Defense Policy, along with officials of the Ministry in charge with a defense strategy. 
• The visit of His Excellency Dr. Amin Hussein Al-Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Policy and Licensing at the Ministry of Health and Community Protection, and his meeting during this visit with Spanish officials in the Spanish Ministry of Health.

2) From the Spanish side:

• The visit of His Excellency/ Luis de Guindos, Minister of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, and His Excellency/ Marisa Pontela, Minister of State for Spanish Trade, to the UAE in October 2017 on the occasion of the fourth session of the UAE-Spain Joint Economic Committee. 
• The visit of His Excellency / Augustin Conde, Minister of State for Defense Affairs, to attend the 12th International Defense Exhibition and Conference "IDEX 2017" from 17 to 23 March 2017 at the Abu Dhabi Exhibition Center.
• The visit of His Excellency / Julio Gomith Bomar, Minister of State for Infrastructure, Transport and Housing, and His Excellency / Juan Alvaro, President of the Spanish National Railways Network (Renfe), to participate in the Middle East Railways Conference and Exhibition "MiddleEastRail 2017" that was held in Dubai from 7 To March 8, 2017.

The UAE and Spain share a dynamic economic partnership, built on trade, investment and long-standing commercial ties. In 2024, non-oil bilateral trade reached a record $3.3 billion, a 17% increase from the previous year. The UAE is Spain’s leading export destination in the Gulf region and one of its most important non-EU markets, while the UAE has become the largest Arab investor in Spain, with investments exceeding $8 billion. Spanish investments in the UAE have also surpassed $408 million, reflecting growing confidence in both markets.

The UAE–Spain relationship has evolved from diplomatic cooperation into a broader strategic partnership. Today, the relationship is increasingly focused on the sectors shaping future growth: renewable energy, logistics, infrastructure, sustainable mobility, aerospace, defence technology, agribusiness, food security and digital transformation. Both countries are working to deepen private-sector links, expand investment flows and develop joint opportunities in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

• The foundations of the distinguished relations between the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Spain were laid by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and His Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain, whose close personal friendship played a pivotal role in establishing and strengthening the ties between the two nations.

• Over the years, these relations have continued to flourish through sustained efforts to promote cultural, educational, and people-to-people exchanges, fostering deeper mutual understanding and appreciation between the Emirati and Spanish peoples.

• Cultural cooperation has been reinforced through numerous initiatives and events hosted in both countries, including Spain’s participation in international dialogue and cultural forums, as well as a wide range of Emirati cultural activities organized across Spanish cities.

• These relations reached new heights through high-level official exchanges, most notably the visit of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, in August 2019 to inaugurate the Madrid Book Fair, where Sharjah was the Guest of Honour. During the visit, His Highness was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Autonomous University of Madrid in recognition of his support for Spanish archaeological missions in Sharjah and his outstanding contributions to heritage preservation, cultural research, languages, and human civilization.

• In June 2019, His Excellency Hussain Ibrahim Al Hammadi, then Minister of Education of the UAE, visited Spain and held meetings with senior officials from the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, the Ministry of Science and Innovation, and leading Spanish universities. Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in education, scientific research, knowledge exchange, and exploring opportunities to expand Spanish language education within the UAE.

• Spain has become an increasingly attractive destination for Emirati students pursuing higher education, particularly in fields such as sustainability, environmental sciences, artificial intelligence, engineering, innovation, and advanced technologies. 

• The historical and civilizational legacy of Al-Andalus continues to serve as a unique bridge between the UAE and Spain. Reflecting this shared appreciation, the exhibition “Andalusia: History and Civilization” was inaugurated at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre in Abu Dhabi (2023/2024) under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan and opened by His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The exhibition celebrated the rich heritage of Al-Andalus and showcased rare manuscripts, archaeological artefacts, scientific achievements, literary works, and cultural contributions that helped shape global civilization.The exhibition highlighted seven major civilizational themes, including the Great Mosque of Córdoba, Madinat al-Zahra, Al-Zahrawi, Ibn Zaydun, Al-Idrisi, Ibn Rushd, and the Gardens of the Alhambra, illustrating the enduring legacy of Andalusian culture and its influence on human progress.

• Cultural cooperation between the UAE and Spain is further strengthened through long-standing partnerships between leading institutions in both countries. Notable examples include the collaboration between the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) and the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía (Queen Sofía School of Music), one of Europe’s most prestigious music institutions, which has contributed significantly to artistic exchange, talent development, and the promotion of classical music education.

• Sports have also become an important pillar of bilateral relations. Numerous Emirati sports clubs, teams, and athletes regularly participate in training camps, tournaments, and development programs in Spain, benefiting from the country's internationally recognized expertise in football, cycling, motorsports, and high-performance sports management.
• The UAE and Spain continue to deepen cooperation across the cultural, educational, scientific, and sporting sectors, reflecting a shared commitment to innovation, intercultural dialogue, human development, and sustainable progress.