United Arab Emirates

Diplomatic relations between Brazil and the United Arab Emirates were established in 1974. The Embassy of Brazil in Abu Dhabi was opened in 1978. In 1991, the UAE opened its Embassy in Brasília, their first in Latin America. Since 2017, the UAE maintains a consulate-general in São Paulo.

The first visit by a Brazilian Head of State to the UAE took place in 2003, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. In 2019, during an official visit by President Jair Bolsonaro to the Emirates, the status of the relationship was elevated to “Strategic Partnership”. A presidential visit was also paid in 2021. In 2023 and 2024, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited the Emirates on two occasions: in March 2023, for meetings with UAE’s President,  Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and in November 2023, when he took part in COP 28, in Dubai.

Trade between Brazil and the UAE has intensified, especially since 2018. In 2024, trade flow reached $5.4 billion (an increase of 24.3% compared to 2023), as a result of $4.5 billion in Brazilian exports (a growth of   43.5%) and $884.6 million in imports (a decrease of  26.4%). Brazil had a trade surplus of $3.7 billion. Among Brazilian exports, sugar and molasses (25%), poultry meat (21%), fresh beef (13%) and fuel oils (7.6%) stand out, while imports are concentrated in petroleum fuel oils (57%) and platforms and vessels (22%). Brazilian agribusiness plays an essential role in Emirati food security, accounting for a significant portion of sales to the local market. Emirati investments in Brazil are estimated at more than $10 billion, driven by the UAE's main sovereign wealth funds, which together manage assets worth more than $1 trillion. Mubadala, in particular, is notable for projects in the infrastructure sector and investments in biofuel production in Brazil. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) also has interest in sectors such as real estate and hotels. Conversely, Brazilian companies such as BRF, Vale, Embraer, Tramontina, WEG and Marcopolo have offices or operations in the Emirates, using the country as a hub for the entire region.

Institutional dialogue between Brazil and the UAE is held through different mechanisms: the Brazil-UAE Joint Commission (Comista), which has already had three editions (2011, 2012 and 2021); the Political Consultation mechanism, whose last meeting was held in November 2024, in Brasília; and the United Arab Emirates-Brazil Business Council, created in 2021, based on a memorandum of understanding between the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Dubai. These forums have contributed to deepening cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, innovation, technology, defense, technical and humanitarian cooperation, in addition to strengthening contact between the business communities of the two countries.

The climate agenda is an important item in the bilateral relationship, intensified with Brazil's participation in COP 28, in November 2023, in Dubai. In April 2023, a Joint Declaration on Climate Action was signed, and, in August 2023, the President of COP 28, Sultan Al Jaber, visited Brazil during the Amazon Summit, in Belém, reaffirming the joint commitment to sustainability and the promotion of clean energy.

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the UAE and Mercosur, under negotiation, and the Investment Cooperation and Facilitation Agreement (ICFA) signed with Brazil could further strengthen economic and political ties between Brazil and the United Arab Emirates.

Chronology of Bilateral Relations

2024 – The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Khaled bin Mohammed Al-Nahyan, visits Rio de Janeiro on the occasion of the G20 Summit

2024 – 2nd Political Consultation Meeting

2024 – Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira visits Abu Dhabi

2023 – The  Emirati Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, visits Brazil

2023 – President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visits the UAE

2021 – President Jair Bolsonaro visits the UAE

2021 – 3rd Joint Commission

2019 -  President Jair Bolsonaro visits the UAE

2019 – The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, visits Brasilia

2018 – Brazil and the United Arab Emirates sign a Convention for the elimination of double taxation and the prevention of tax evasion  

2018 – First Brazil-UAE Political Consultation meeting, in Abu Dhabi

2018 – The President of the Federal Senate Foreign Affairs and National Defense Commission, Senator Fernando Collor, visits the UAE

2017 – The Minister of Defense, Raul Jungmann, visits the UAE

2017  – Brazil approves the creation of the Emirati military attaché office  in Brasília, on November 5th. The UAE agrees to the creation of the Defense, Navy, Army and Air Force attaché office in Abu Dhabi o December 6th

2017 – The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, Blairo Maggi, visits Dubai

2017 – The UAE Minister of Defense, Mohammed Ahmad Al Bowardi, visits Brazil

2017 – The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, visits Brasilia

2017 – The Minister of Health, Ricardo Barros, visits in Dubai

2016 – An Emirati military delegation headed by Deputy Commander of the UAE Air Force visits Brazil.

2015 – The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, Kátia Abreu, visits the United Arab Emirates.

2015 – The Minister of the Environment and Water Resources of the UAE, Rashid bin Fahad, visits  Rio de Janeiro

2015 – The Minister of Energy of the UAE, Suhail al Mazrouei, visits Brazil to attend the presidential inauguration

2014 – The Minister of Agriculture, Neri Geller, visits the United Arab Emirates.

2014 – The Vice President, Prime Minister, and Minister of Defense of the UAE and Emir of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, visits Brazil

2014 – Signing of the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on Sport Cooperation, in Abu Dhabi

2013 – The Minister-Chief of the Secretariat for Strategic Affairs of the Presidency of the Republic, Marcelo Neri, visits Abu Dhabi

2013 – The Vice President of the Republic, Michel Temer, visits the UAE

2013 – The Minister of Economy of the UAE, Sultan al Mansouri, visits São Paulo

2012 – The 2nd meeting of the Brazil-UAE Joint Committee is held in Abu Dhabi

2012 – Foreign minister Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan visits  Brasília

2011 – The 1st meeting of the Brazil-UAE Joint Committee is held in Brasília.

2010 – Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan attends the Mercosur Summit Meeting as the representative of the Gulf Cooperation Council rotating presidency

2010 – The Minister  of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Miguel Jorge, visits Abu Dhabi

2010 – The Minister of Defense, Nelson Jobim, visits the UAE

2009 – The Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdallah Bin Zayed al Nahyan, visits Brazil (Manaus, Brasília, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo)

2008 – Creation of the Brazil-UAE Parliamentary Friendship Group (October)

2007 – Emirates Airline launches direct flights between Dubai and São Paulo

2005 – The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, Sheikh Rashid Abdullah Al Nuaimi, attends  the ASPA Summit, in Brasília

2003 – President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visits the UAE

2000 – The Secretary General of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Osmar Chohfi, visits the UAE

1991 – Opening of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Brasília

1988 – Signing of the Agreement on Economic, Commercial, Industrial, Technologic and Financial Cooperation

1978 – Brazil opens  its embassy in Abu Dhabi

1974 - The  Embassy of Brazil in the UAE, concurrent with the Embassy in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is created (Decree n. 74265, July 8,1974)

1974 – Diplomatic relations between Brazil and the United Arab Emirates are established (June 10)