UAE and Australia mark 40 years of growing relations

The bilateral relations between UAE and Australia have witnessed remarkable progress in the recent years since the exchange of notes establishing diplomatic relations between Australia and the UAE in August 1975.

Since the opening of the UAE Embassy in Canberra in 1997, the two countries have enjoyed long term bilateral relations based on trade in the areas of oil, gas, minerals, meat, livestock and others. They also have cooperation ties in the fields of military, defence and security.

Earlier this year, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces welcomed Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and his accompanying delegation during a visit to the UAE.

In the same year, Foreign Minister H. H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, received in Abu Dhabi Andrew Robb, Australian Minister for Trade and Investment. He also met, during a visit to Australia, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

Sheikh Abdullah and former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr signed in 2012 the Cooperation Agreement on Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy. The deal sets the framework for civil cooperation in the nuclear energy between both countries, and facilitates the trade exchange of nuclear materials and equipment. It follows a number of agreements signed by the UAE with a number of countries that export nuclear materials and technology.

The UAE-Australian ties cover other areas such as health, culture, education and aviation. Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airways operate flights to Australia, while Virgin Australia operates flights from Sidney to Abu Dhabi.

Many Australians visit the UAE for tourism or work, while a number of Emiratis visit Australia for tourism or study.

The non-oil trade between the two countries witnessed a huge surge in 2014 to Dh 9.5 billion. In education, there are over 1,000 Emirati students currently studying in Australia and around 6,000 students graduated from branches of two Australian universities in Dubai.

Between 2010 and 2015, Australia hosted visits by Foreign Minister H. H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Economy Minister Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of State Reem Ibrahim Al Hashimy and Minister of International Cooperation and Development (MICAD) Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi.

The same period saw visits by high ranking Australian officials to the UAE, including Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb, as well as the current visit by the Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Sir Peter Cosgrove.