United Arab Emirates

Diplomatic relations between Brazil and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were formally 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. In March 2017, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE opened the new building of the emirati consulate-general in São Paulo.

From 2000 on, bilateral relations have evolved rapidly both in their economic and political aspects, a process driven by the increase in the number of official visits. In November 2013, the then Vice President Michel Temer visited the UAE. The Emirati Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, visited Brazil in 2009, 2010 (Mercosur), 2012, 2014, 2017 and 2019. The Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE and Emir of Dubai, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, visited Brazil in 2014. 

Developments in the bilateral political agenda over the last 15 years were followed by deeper economic relations. Since 2008, the UAE have been the second-largest trading partner of Brazil in the Middle East.

The economies of Brazil and the UAE are highly complementary and show a potential for cooperation in several trade and investment sectors which are still unexplored or only partially developed. The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (APEX-Brazil) keeps an office in the Middle East, located in Dubai. In 2018, bilateral trade between the two countries reached 2.59 billion dollars.

Chronology of Bilateral Relations

2019 -  Presidential visit to the United Arab Emirates (October 27)

2019 – The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, visits Brasilia (March 15)

2018 – Brazil and the United Arab Emirates sign Convention for the elimination of double taxation and the prevention of tax evasion (November 12)

2018 – First Brazil-UAE Political Consultations meeting (Abu Dhabi - July 2)

2018 – The President of the Federal Senate Foreign Affairs and National Defense Commission, Senator Fernando Collor, visits the UAE (April 1-4)

2017 – The Minister of Defense Raul Jungmann is hosted by the Heir Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, by the Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed and the Minister of Defense Mohammed Al Bowardi durinig his visit to the UAE (November 4-7)

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

2017 – The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply Blairo Maggi visits Dubai (May 19-21)

2017 – The UAE Minister of Defense, Mohammed Ahmad Al Bowardi, is hosted by Minister of Defense Raul Jugmann during his visit to Brazil (May 11-13)

2017 – The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, visits Brasilia on March 16. On the occasion, he is hosted by the President of the Republic and the President of the National Congress and hold meetings with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, of Defense, of Industry, Foreign Trade and Services and the President of the Federal Senate Foreign Affairs and Defense Commission. In São Paulo, on March 21, he attends the opening of the new building of the UAE consulate general and holds meetings with the Governor of the State of São Paulo and the Mayor of the city of São Paulo

2017 – The Minister of Health Ricardo Barros attends the “World Government Summit” and meets with the Minister of Health and Prevention of the UAE, Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, in Dubai (February 12-14)

2016 – An Emirati military delegation headed by Deputy Commander of the UAE Air Force visits Brazil. The delegation is hosted in a meeting by the Minister of Defense of Brazil and visits facilities of the Brazilian defense industry in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro

2015 – The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, Kátia Abreu, visits the United Arab Emirates. The Minister  meets with authorities of the ADIA Sovereign Fund and visits the BR Foods plant in Abu Dhabi (November 10-12)

2015 – The Minister of the Environment and Water Resources of the UAE, Rashid bin Fahad, travels to Rio de Janeiro for an official visit (January 31 - February 3)

2014 – The Minister of Agriculture, Neri Geller, visits the United Arab Emirates. The Minister attends the inauguration ceremony of the BRF plant in Abu Dhabi and meets with the Minister of Environment and Water of the UAE (also responsible for agricultural affairs) (November 26)

2014 – The Vice President, Prime Minister, Minister of Defense of the UAE and Emir of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, makes an official visit to Brasília, accompanied by Foreign Minister Abdulla bin Zayed Al Nahyan. On the occasion, the Agreement on Defense Cooperation is signed (April 22).

2014 – Signing of the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on Sport Cooperation, in Abu Dhabi (January 8) 

2013 – The Minister-Chief of the Secretariat for Strategic Affairs of the Presidency of the Republic, Marcelo Neri, attends the World Economic Forum in Abu Dhabi (November 17-20)

2013 – The Vice President of the Republic, Michel Temer, visits the United Arab Emirates (November, 10-12)

2013 – The Minister of Economy of the UAE, Sultan al Mansouri, visits São Paulo, leading an entourage of 20 executives and high-level government officials. 

2012 – The second meeting of the Brazil-UAE Joint Committee is held in Abu Dhabi. The Brazilian delegation is headed by the Undersecretary General for Africa and the Middle East (November)

2012 – Foreign minister Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan makes an official visit to Brasília on March 16. On the occasion, he is hosted by Vice President of the Republic and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, of Mines and Energy and of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade

2011 – The first meeting of the Brazil-UAE Joint Committee is held in Brasília. The Brazilian delegation is headed by the Undersecretary General for Africa and the Middle East, and the Emirati delegation is headed by the Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs (May 11-12)

2010 – Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan attends the Mercosur Summit Meeting as the representative of the Gulf Cooperation Council rotating presidency (Foz do Iguaçu, December 16-17)

2010 – Minister  of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade Miguel Jorge visits Abu Dhabi, accompanied by a business delegation of 100 executives (December 5th)

2010 – Minister of Defense Nelson Jobim visits the UAE (September 18-21)

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) (October).

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 (May) 

2003 – Visit of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to the United Arab Emirates (December)

2000 – Secretary General of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Osmar Chohfi, visits the United Arab Emirates (September)

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 sets up 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).