The Republic of Singapore - UAE Relationships

Overview of Diplomatic Relations

Diplomatic relations between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Republic of Singapore were established on May 15, 1985, setting a model for sustainable international cooperation. Recognizing the importance of these bilateral ties, the UAE opened its embassy in Singapore in 2001, and diplomatic representation was upgraded in 2010. On the other hand, Singapore established a consulate in Dubai in November 1996, which was upgraded to a consulate general in 2006, followed by the opening of its embassy in Abu Dhabi in 2007.

Since then, relations between the two nations have witnessed continuous growth and development, significantly enhancing and deepening their cooperation across all sectors. This strong relationship has been further reinforced through several strategic agreements, including the Economic, Trade, and Technical Cooperation Agreement signed in March 2005 during the visit of Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, then Minister of Economy, to Singapore. This agreement paved the way for a series of partnerships across various sectors.

The UAE-Singapore relationship is characterized by mutual respect and a strong commitment to further development for shared interests. This commitment is evident in the expansion of bilateral ties into diverse fields. Today, the UAE hosts over 600 Singaporean companies operating in key sectors such as infrastructure, construction, real estate, telecommunications, transportation, water treatment, and information technology.

In February 2019, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (may God protect him) made a historic visit to Singapore, where he met with then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. During the visit, both countries agreed to elevate their bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Partnership (SUCP)—the first official framework of its kind between Singapore and any Middle Eastern country. This agreement aims to deepen existing areas of cooperation while exploring new opportunities for mutual benefit, covering:

1. Political exchanges
2. Trade, industry, and investment
3. Financial cooperation
4. Defense and security collaboration
5. Sustainable development and energy
6. Education and human resource development
7. Healthcare

This comprehensive framework underscores the importance of UAE-Singapore relations and paves the way for promising future cooperation.

UAE-Singapore Bilateral Relations
The United Arab Emirates and Singapore share a longstanding and multifaceted relationship built on economic cooperation, strategic collaboration and shared interests in facilitating global trade flows and sustainable development. Diplomatic relations were formally established in 1985, and since then, both countries have strengthened ties across various sectors.

High-level engagements between both governments underscore the depth of bilateral relations. Leaders and senior officials regularly meet to advance cooperation on mutual priorities. In addition to state visits, interactions take place at multilateral forums such as the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The Abu Dhabi-Singapore Joint Forum, first held on March 2008, is an annual platform which underscores the substantive bilateral economic relationship between the UAE and Singapore. The Joint Forum facilitates the development of significant partnerships between public and private entities from the UAE and Singapore across a range of sectors.

Another platform is the Singapore-UAE Joint Committee, which is held biennially and helmed by the foreign ministers of both countries. At the inaugural meeting of the Singapore-UAE Joint Committee, held on October 2014, an MoU was signed to establish bilateral consultations between the foreign ministries of the UAE and Singapore, which in turn will allow for regular exchanges on issues of common concern.

In February 2019, the two governments signed the Singapore-UAE Comprehensive Partnership, a framework aimed at deepening existing areas of cooperation and exploring new areas of mutual benefit. The first formalised framework of its kind between Singapore and a Middle Eastern nation, the Singapore-UAE Comprehensive Partnership aims to deepen collaboration in diverse areas, including trade, investment, defence, security and sustainable development, while paving the way for new avenues of cooperation.

Economic Relations: Trade and Investment
The United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Singapore enjoy economic relations built on a solid foundation of mutual interests, as reflected in high levels of trade exchange and deepening investment linkages. The UAE occupies the position of Singapore’s largest trading partner and most important investment destination in the Middle East and North Africa region, and ranks thirteenth among Singapore’s global trading partners according to 2024 reports.

Bilateral merchandise trade between the two countries recorded notable growth, reaching SGD 27.9 billion in 2025, compared with SGD 24.05 billion in 2024, reflecting the expanding scope of exchange and the sustainability of commercial momentum. Non-oil trade accounts for more than one-third of total bilateral trade, underscoring the diversity of the economic base underpinning relations between the two sides. On the investment front, Singapore’s cumulative investments in the United Arab Emirates rose to SGD 4.9 billion in 2023, compared with SGD 4.3 billion in 2022, providing a clear indication of growing confidence among Singaporean investors in the UAE’s investment environment and its long-term attractiveness.

Singaporean companies have a significant presence in the UAE, with over 600 Singapore firms operating across various sectors, according to Enterprise Singapore. Singapore companies in the UAE are active in key areas such as fintech, healthcare, infrastructure and education. 

The UAE is a key investor in Singapore, with a growing presence across key sectors such as renewable energy, electronics, logistics and technology. Major UAE companies like DP World, Masdar and Space42 have a presence in Singapore and contribute significantly to UAE-Singapore economic collaboration.

Economic Relations: Sustainability
The UAE and Singapore are advancing their partnership in renewable energy and carbon markets. During Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s official visit to the UAE in October 2023, the UAE and Singapore signed a Green Economy Framework Agreement, under which both countries will work on projects in green transport, low-carbon energy and carbon markets. At the same time, both countries also agreed to deepen their collaboration on environmental protection and climate change by pledging to work jointly on food and water security. The UAE and Singapore also agreed to collaborate on setting standards in the areas of hydrogen fuel and carbon capture and storage.

Economic Relations: Financial Services 
Financial cooperation is a key pillar of UAE-Singapore relations. Both countries serve as leading financial hubs in their respective regions and collaborate extensively in banking, fintech, and capital markets. The Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Central Bank of the UAE signed a memorandum of understanding in 2009 to pave the way for information sharing and to strengthen the supervision of cross-border operations of financial institutions under their purview. First Abu Dhabi Bank and Emirates NBD maintain a presence in Singapore. These banks support UAE-based companies operating in Asia while also facilitating trade and investment flows between the Gulf and Southeast Asia.

Economic Relations: Advanced Technology
The UAE and Singapore are working together in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital economy initiatives. During the official visit of His Highness Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, to Singapore on October 2024, an MOU was signed involving AI Singapore, the Abu Dhabi Department of Government Enablement, Advanced Technology Research Council, and Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence. This agreement aims to enhance AI capacity development and skills implementation in both Abu Dhabi and Singapore. These collaborative efforts support business expansion and drive innovation in emerging sectors, which reinforce both nations’ status as technology hubs in their respective regions.

Economic Relations: Security 
Security cooperation between the UAE and Singapore is anchored in intelligence sharing and security collaboration. The UAE and Singapore work together to combat transnational threats, including cybercrime and illicit financial activities. Their partnership in these areas contributes to broader global efforts in safeguarding critical infrastructure and enhancing the resilience of financial and digital networks.

Economic Relations: People-to-People Ties
Beyond government and business cooperation, people-to-people ties between the UAE and Singapore continue to strengthen. The UAE hosts the largest concentration of Singaporeans in the Middle East, with about 3,000 Singaporeans living and working in the country. The two countries have established educational exchange programs and cultural initiatives that foster greater understanding and engagement between their populations.

The United Arab Emirates and Singapore maintain strong air connectivity through frequent direct flights, with Emirates Airline operating 28 flights per week between Dubai and Singapore, and Etihad Airways operating daily direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Singapore. Singapore Airlines also operates a daily service between Singapore and Dubai. 

With a shared commitment to economic growth, technological advancement, and sustainable development, the UAE and Singapore continue to build on their strong foundation of cooperation, setting the stage for deeper collaboration in the years ahead.

Cultural and Education relations

Education serves as a cornerstone in strengthening bilateral relations between Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, particularly in the cultural sphere, where it fosters mutual understanding and dialogue. Culture plays a pivotal role in bringing people closer together, and the UAE Embassy in Singapore has actively collaborated with various cultural institutions to organize events and activities showcasing Emirati heritage, traditions, and national customs. These initiatives have enhanced communication between the two nations, reinforcing the UAE’s image as a society rooted in tolerance, unity, and human fraternity.

On the educational and academic front, cooperation between universities and think tanks in both countries has grown remarkably. This is evident in the increasing exchange of scholars and researchers, with faculty from the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University visiting the UAE, while delegations from Khalifa University, Mohamed bin Zayed University for Humanities, the Emirates College for Advanced Education, and UAE University have traveled to Singapore for academic and research collaborations. Notably, 2024 marked a significant milestone with the signing of nine agreements in education, research, academia, and science, further elevating the educational landscape in both nations.

Additionally, the embassy plays a key role in coordinating executive education programs within Singapore’s prestigious universities. These programs cater to senior leaders from both government and private institutions in the UAE, including Dubai International, UAE University, and teacher training initiatives under NAFIS, among others.

Furthermore, as part of its commitment to fostering youth engagement, the embassy has facilitated visits and dialogue programs for young people from both countries. These initiatives provide Emirati youth with opportunities to exchange ideas and experiences with their Singaporean counterparts, enabling them to engage with leading intellectual institutions such as the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and the Emirates Centre for Research and Strategic Studies.

Such efforts contribute to developing a globally connected and empowered generation, equipped to drive future collaboration between the UAE and Singapore.

• The Embassy is not authorized or provided with the facility to issue UAE Certificate of Police Clearance. The certificate can only be obtained by application through the websites of Dubai Police or the Ministry of Interior in the UAE.
• For more information pertaining to Police Clearance certificate, kindly contact the Consulate Department of the UAE Embassy.