UAE and China Celebrate 40 Years of Strategic Collaboration

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the People's Republic of China mark 40 years of diplomatic relations in 2024, reflecting a robust partnership that has driven significant milestones in economic development, trade, and innovation. Built on shared goals and a commitment to sustainable growth, their collaboration has evolved into a comprehensive economic partnership.

A key pillar of this relationship is the UAE's active involvement in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), leveraging its strategic location and advanced infrastructure to support regional trade and development. Since 2013, the UAE has invested $10 billion in a joint China-UAE fund for BRI projects in East Africa and signed 13 memorandums of understanding in 2018 to expand cooperation across multiple sectors. As a founding member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the UAE continues to play a vital role in advancing infrastructure development.

Economic ties between the two nations remain strong, with China ranking as the UAE's third-largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI), amounting to $6.3 billion, and total bilateral investments reaching $15 billion in 2022. China is the UAE’s largest trading partner in the Arab world for non-oil trade, while the UAE is China’s top Arab trading partner. In the first half of 2024, non-oil trade exceeded $50 billion, with projections for the year surpassing $100 billion.

Tourism is another area of thriving collaboration, with 1.2 million Chinese visitors arriving in the UAE in 2023. The UAE also hosts a significant Chinese expatriate community of 350,000 residents. Over 210 flights connect the two countries monthly, highlighting their strong aviation ties.

In 2023, the UAE joined the BRICS group alongside Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, underscoring its commitment to multilateral cooperation and its role in fostering global peace, development, and economic growth.

As the UAE-China partnership continues to strengthen, the relationship serves as a model of innovation, mutual prosperity, and shared progress, reinforcing both nations’ positions as leaders in global economic and strategic collaboration.

News Source: Emirates News Agency