The European Union Delegation to the United Arab Emirates celebrated the 10th anniversary of the opening of the diplomatic mission in Abu Dhabi, marking a significant milestone as the EU and the UAE enter a new phase in their strategic partnership.

To commemorate the occasion, H.E. Lucie Berger, EU Ambassador to the UAE, hosted today (Thursday) an EU-UAE Majlis in Abu Dhabi, welcoming H.E. Lana Nusseibeh, UAE’s Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs and Special Envoy to the EU, and H.E Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, as well as H.E. Luigi Di Maio, EU Special Representative for the Gulf. The event was also attended by UAE government officials, and Ambassadors of EU Member States to the UAE.

This celebration follows the historic EU-GCC Summit in October, which brought together leaders from both regions to address shared geopolitical challenges and explore avenues for future cooperation.

In her address, Ambassador Berger remarked:

“The EU-UAE strategic partnership has grown stronger in recent years, rooted in shared interests and values. The inaugural EU-GCC Summit marked a significant step forward, solidifying our joint commitment to peace, security, and sustainable growth.”

She added: “The UAE is not just a partner but a key player in tackling global challenges such as climate change, trade diversification, and regional stability. As we look to the future, we remain committed to deepening cooperation across sectors, recognising that a robust EU-UAE partnership benefits not only our regions but the global community as a whole.”

H.E. Luigi Di Maio, EU Special Representative for the Gulf, also noted:

“The relations between the EU, the UAE and the GCC countries are witnessing an unprecedented momentum leading to the historic EU-GCC summit in Brussels on 16 October, the first meeting of our leaders in this format. The joint statement of the Summit is the strongest evidence that both sides are fully committed to implementing a strategic partnership crafted to advance our shared ambitions through concrete steps, both at bilateral and regional levels, in key fields, such as regional and global security, trade, energy, innovation or connecting and empowering our citizens.”

The Majlis celebrated EU-UAE achievements over the past decade while looking ahead to the future of this dynamic partnership. Although the formal diplomatic relationship is relatively recent, the UAE and EU member states share a history of deep and enduring relations.

Over the years, the EU and UAE have developed a robust partnership across multiple policy areas, including trade, energy, climate change, economic diversification, and people-to-people exchanges. In 2023, bilateral trade between the EU and UAE reached approximately €75 billion, making the UAE the EU’s top export destination and investment partner in the MENA region.

Looking forward, the EU and the UAE aim to explore new sectors of collaboration, including artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, as well as security and defence, to ensure that our partnership remains dynamic and responsive to the evolving global landscape.

The EU Delegation was the second EU diplomatic mission in the region, highlighting the importance of the Emirates for the EU from both political and economic perspective, and the EU's commitment to strengthening this bilateral cooperation. The UAE is also home to the diplomatic missions of 26 EU Member States.