The United Arab Emirates and the Commonwealth of Australia have enjoyed strong and steadily expanding bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1975.
The UAE opened its Embassy in Canberra in 1997, followed by the opening of the Australian Embassy in Abu Dhabi in 1999, and shortly thereafter the Australian Consulate-General in Dubai.
Over the past five decades, the bilateral relationship has evolved into a comprehensive partnership spanning a wide range of sectors, including trade and investment, education, defense, energy, innovation, food security, and cultural exchange. This cooperation is further strengthened by close people-to-people ties, with more than 25,000 Australian nationals living and working in the UAE, while thousands of UAE nationals travel to Australia each year for education and other purposes. Sister-city agreements between Abu Dhabi and Brisbane, and Dubai and the Gold Coast, have also strengthened cooperation and the exchange of expertise between local governments in both countries.
The year 2024 marked a significant milestone in bilateral relations with the official visit of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, to Australia. The visit culminated in the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), establishing a comprehensive framework to advance bilateral trade, investment, and economic cooperation.
In 2025, The Hon. Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia, paid an official visit to the United Arab Emirates. During the visit, the two countries announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership, reflecting the depth of their longstanding ties and their shared commitment to expanding cooperation across areas of mutual interest.
