In 1997, the United Arab Emirates inaugurated its embassy in Canberra. Reciprocally, the Australian Embassy in Abu Dhabi was established in 1999, along with the establishment of a Consul-General in Dubai soon after. The late 20th and early 21st centuries saw a notable expansion in the bilateral relationship between our two nations.
In 2013 His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, then the Crown Prince, visited Australia before assuming the positions of President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi in 2022. This visit significantly enhanced strategic cooperation between our two countries. The visit served as a key catalyst for fostering closer ties and collaborative efforts in important sectors such as education, defence, tourism, and innovation.
Australians and Emiratis are united in a friendship that is deeply personal. More than 25,000 Australians live and work in the UAE, and each year thousands of Emirati’s visit and study in Australia. Our people to people connections are epitomised by the sister city relationships between, Abu Dhabi and Brisbane, as well as, Dubai and the Gold Coast.
