The 2nd Japan-UAE Business Forum took place in Abu Dhabi today with opening addresses delivered by Suhail Almazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy, and Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan. The Forum was part of the Japanese Prime Minister’s visit to the United Arab Emirates. With more than 300 delegates in attendance, the Forum reflects the longstanding and strong bilateral relationship between the United Arab Emirates and Japan, and aims to build upon more than four decades of partnership and trade between two of the world’s most dynamically-growing regions. Japan is a significant trading partner of the UAE, and one of its most important international allies. Japan imports 20.5% of its oil from the UAE, making it Japan’s eighth largest trading partner.