Welcome!
We are proud of the over 50 years of strong UAE-Canada diplomatic relations, rooted in the shared friendship, solid ties, and complementary values. Over the years, our profound relation with Canada hasthrived, characterized by frequent visits from political and business leaders, and extensive bilateral exchanges and partnerships across various sectors, including healthcare to education.
Our two countries’ close relations have been further enshrined through our shared commitments and cooperation in supporting the empowerment of women, global peace & security, a sustainable environment, and support for the developing world. These shared commitments have further progressed through our partnerships with international organizations - such as the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), headquartered in the UAE, and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), headquartered in Montreal - as well as through our joint business organization, the Canada-UAE Business Council (CUBC), which was spearheaded by our two foreign ministers, and the Canada-UAE Parliamentary Friendship Group, which has a membership of over 60 Canadian Senators & Members of Parliament, from various political parties.
When the Embassy of the UAE to Canada was first established in 1999, the total bilateral trade between our two countries stood at $365 million. By 2023, our bilateral trade reached more than $3 billion, with at least $30 billion of UAE investment in Canada.
The UAE stands as Canada’s number one export country in the Middle East & North Africa region, with an even greater potential for increased growth.
We are also pleased to have more than 40,000 Canadians living in the UAE, and more than 150 major Canadian companies thriving in our country - and we welcome even more Canadians to benefit from all UAE has to offer. With one third of the world living within a four-hour flight of the UAE, and this connectivity reaching more than 3.2 billion consumers in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East - with a collective GDP of more than $60 trillion in emerging markets alone - there are endless opportunities for the Canadian business and investment sectors.
The UAE was honored to host Expo 2020, attracting over 24 million visitors and the participation of 178 countries, including Canada.
The relationship between our two nations also continues to expand and flourish through our many bilateral agreements. Notably, the Government of Canada lifted the visa requirement for all UAE nationals to travel to Canada, mirroring the UAE's entry policy for Canadians. Additionally, our collaboration extends to a shared Memorandum of Understanding on Joint Space Cooperation, the expansion of our bilateral air transport agreement, and concluding the negotiations towards an agreed Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement.
With the UAE’s national airline, Etihad Airways, flying from Toronto direct to our capital city of Abu Dhabi, and Emirates Airlines flying direct from Toronto and Montreal to Dubai, and flights also offered through Air Canada to UAE, reaching the UAE has never been easier.
I welcome you to take advantage of this accessibility, and perhaps plan a trip to the UAE, and help us make history together.
Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Canada
H.E. Fahad Saeed AL Raqbani
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