Embassy News

The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Brussels hosted an Emirati Cinema Night at the Centre for Fine Arts (BOZAR), bringing Emirati filmmaking to a European audience of policymakers, cultural institutions and members of the diplomatic corps.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, paid a working visit to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, where he was received by Grand Duke Guillaume and Prime Minister Luc Frieden and met Deputy PM/FM Xavier Bettel. A bilateral treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters was signed; Ambassador Mohamed Ismail Al Sahlawi attended.

Speaker Saqr Ghobash held official talks with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola at the Parliament's seat in Strasbourg on enhancing parliamentary cooperation, developing institutional dialogue mechanisms and coordinating positions on regional and international developments.

Speaker Saqr Ghobash led the Federal National Council delegation on an official visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, amid growing UAE–EU parliamentary relations following European Parliament President Roberta Metsola's visit to the UAE.

As part of a Gulf tour, European Council President António Costa met President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi; talks addressed regional developments and ways to strengthen regional and international security and stability.

The fifth round of UAE–EU FTA negotiations was held in Dubai, covering trade in goods, customs, digital trade and government procurement; the next round was set for Brussels, with both sides aiming to conclude the agreement during 2026.

During a visit to Brussels, Belgian Deputy PM and FM Maxime Prévot received Minister of State and Envoy to the EU Lana Nusseibeh;

Saeed Al Hajeri, Minister of State, welcomed the historic India–EU free trade agreement and reaffirmed the UAE's aspiration to positively conclude its own ongoing FTA/CEPA negotiations with the European Union.

Senior officials formally launched Strategic Partnership Agreement negotiations covering traditional and emerging sectors such as space, AI, cybersecurity, education, climate innovation and sustainability, alongside the FTA track. Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh held a joint press conference in Abu Dhabi with Commissioner Dubravka Šuica.

Minister of Justice Abdullah bin Sultan Al Nuaimi met Belgian Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden during an official visit to Brussels on judicial cooperation and combating cross-border crime, noting 14 extraditions completed to Belgium since the December 2021 extradition agreement.

A high-level delegation led by Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister for Energy and Sustainability, concluded an official visit to Belgium to deepen cooperation in energy, water and sustainability

A WAM analytical feature on the depth and strategic dimensions of the UAE–Belgium partnership across economic and trade fields.

The UAE welcomed the EU's removal of the country from its list of high-risk third countries for AML/CFT, after the European Parliament did not object to the Commission's proposal, following the UAE's FATF grey-list exit in early 2024.

The UAE welcomed the EU's removal of the country from its list of high-risk third countries for AML/CFT, after the European Parliament did not object to the Commission's proposal, following the UAE's FATF grey-list exit in early 2024.

The UAE signed an MoU with an EU agency to establish a secure communication line to enhance security and police cooperation.

In the first visit by a European Parliament President to the UAE, the FNC held a special session chaired by Speaker Saqr Ghobash with President Roberta Metsola, who also met Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed; the visit was described as a new chapter in relations.

Ambassador Mohamed Al Sahlawi, UAE Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU, met Minister-President Adrien Dolimont at the Élysette in Namur to discuss strengthening bilateral ties.

The UAE hosted the 8th EU–UAE Structural Dialogue on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing, co-chaired by Saeed Al Hajeri and the EU side; EU participation included Eurojust, the EPPO and Europol.

President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed to launch free trade agreement negotiations — the first such EU deal pursued with a Gulf state.

A delegation led by Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi and Ahmed Al Sayegh visited Brussels for meetings with senior EU and Belgian officials, meeting Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and several Belgian ministers. UAE–EU non-oil trade reached $67.6bn in 2024; UAE–Belgium $4.7bn.