The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was established as a sovereign state on December 2nd, 1971. Finland recognized the UAE in 1972 and in 1975 the UAE and Finland established formal diplomatic relations.
The bilateral relations are underpinned by a number of bilateral agreements and Memoranda of Understanding:
Agreement on Economic, Industrial and Technical Cooperation (1982)
Agreement between the Republic of Finland and the United Arab Emirates for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income (1996)
Agreement Between the Government of the United Arab Emirates and the Government of Finland on the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments (1996)
Memorandum of Understanding in the field of Defense (2007)
Official memo to exempt holders of diplomatic and private passports from the requirement to obtain an entry visa (2009)
Memorandum of Understanding between the Money Laundering Counter Unit and suspicious cases in the Central Bank (2010)
Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of the environment between the State Ministry of Environment and Water and the VTT Technical Research Center of Finland (2013)
Air services agreement (2013)
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Finland and the Government of the United Arab Emirates for the exchange of information relating to tax matters (2016)
Smart Learning Memorandum of Understanding (2016)
Memorandum of Understanding in the field of training, cooperation and meetings related to air accidents (2017)
Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the field of higher education (2021)
Memorandum of Understanding to establish Political Consultations (2021)
Memorandum of Understanding in the field of energy (2022)
Memorandum of Understanding between the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy and the CMI-Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation to foster collaboration in diplomacy, peacebuilding, and knowledge sharing (2023)
Memorandum of Understanding between the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA) and Finn Church Aid (FCA) to establish the basis for mutual collaboration (2023)
Memorandum of Understanding between the United Arab Emirates and the Government of the Republic of Finland Represented by the Ministry of Finance on Experience Exchange on Government Development and Modernization.
Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Ras Al Khaimah and the Lahti Region, aimed at promoting the exchange of knowledge and innovation in areas such as the circular economy, sustainable materials, eco-friendly production technologies, startups, technological development between universities, research and development in bio-based products and processes, waste management, recycling technologies, green buildings and sustainable construction (2025)
The first bilateral Political Consultation Meeting between the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Finland took place on 17 November 2022.
The first Joint Committee Meeting between the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Finland took place on 27 January 2021. The second round of the UAE-Finland Joint Committee was held on 22 November 2024 in Helsinki, as part of a broader UAE trade mission to Finland.
In December 2024, the Helsinki Policy Forum Steering Group met in Abu Dhabi and was welcomed by H.E. Lana Nusseibeh, UAE Assistant Minister for Political Affairs.
In 2025, the UAE and Finland celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations and mark the occasion with various high-level visits, cultural and other activities.
