Republic of Cyprus
Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Abu Dhabi

Bilateral Relations




The Republic of Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates established official diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level on 6 June 2007. Friendly relations between Cyprus and the Emirates date back several decades as highlighted by the official visit to the UAE of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, the late Archbishop Makarios on May 24, 1975.

Over the years, the Republic of Cyprus has sought to deepen its relations with the GCC countries as an EU Member State situated at the crossroads of three continents and occupying a strategic position at the gateways of Europe, Asia and Africa. Cyprus is now witnessing a real impetus in the development of its political and economic cooperation with the GCC countries and with the UAE in particular.

Cyprus’ 11,000-year history attests of the many civilizations that left their footprint on the island, influencing it’s long and rich past and shaping Cyprus into a multicultural, multi-religious and tolerant society. The island, the closest European country to the GCC countries, has become a popular destination for UAE citizens and expatriates alike. The UAE is second home to many Cypriots and there are currently numerous Cypriot companies operating in the UAE and contributing to the strengthening of the bilateral trade relations, in addition to the participation of Cyprus in major commercial and other exhibitions in the UAE.

Cyprus’ participation in Expo 2020, presented to the visitors, through an exploratory journey, all that Cyprus has to offer in terms of its culture, natural beauty, hospitality and business opportunities, as an international hub for investments, trade and services but also as a major tourist destination.

In recent years, there has been a considerable strengthening of bilateral relations with the United Arab Emirates, as witnessed by the official visit of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nicos Anastasiades to the UAE in 2014. As a follow-up to the President’s visit, the first round of political consultations between the two countries took place in Nicosia in May 2016, followed in July 2016 by a meeting in Nicosia of Foreign Minister, Mr. Ioannis Kasoulides with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

More recently, there was an exchange of visits of the Foreign Ministers, with the visit of Mr. Nikos Christodoulides to Abu Dhabi in July 2018 and the visit of Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Nicosia, in June 2019. During the latter, the two Foreign Ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing a Joint Committee for Cooperation between the two countries, setting the framework for further expanding Cyprus’ bilateral relations in the economic as well as in the political sector.

In December 2019, the President of the Cypriot House of Representatives, Mr. Demetris Syllouris, paid an official visit to the UAE and was received by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The President of the Cypriot House of Representatives met with the Speaker of the Federal National Council, Mr.SaqrGhobash,with whom he discussed the bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to enhance cooperation in the parliamentary, cultural and educational fields.

The strong political cooperation between Cyprus and the UAE was reaffirmed by the visit of Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, to Cyprus on October 1, 2020, during which the two sides underscored the robust and privileged relations between the two countries, reviewed the prospects of advancing cooperation and exchanged views over a number of issues of mutual concern.

Cyprus now enjoys a structured cooperation with the UAE, witnessing a significant expansion in bilateral political and economic ties. The inaugural meeting of the Cyprus-UAE Joint Committee was convened on November 11, 2020. As a result of that meeting, diverse opportunities for collaboration emerged in various key fields, including trade, investment, energy, shipping and Maritime Industry, education, culture, tourism, Security and Defence.

The Foreign Ministers of the two countries met again in Abu Dhabi on 18 January 2021 and reviewed the prospects of advancing relations between the two friendly nations across all fronts. They underlined the steadily growing cooperation between Cyprus and the UAE, reaffirmed the depth and width of the UAE-Cypriot relations and underscored their determination to foster cooperation. They addressed the recent regional and international developments, primarily the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and ways of ensuring security and stability in the region. The Cypriot Foreign Minister was also received by the Speaker of the Federal National Council of the UAE, highlighting the bilateral cooperation and friendship between the two countries.

On 12 January 2021, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Charalambos Petrides and the Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Mr. Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Joint Cooperation in the Defence and Military Fields. The signing of this MoU contributes to strengthening joint action in the military and defence fields with the aim of raising capabilities and cooperating towards security and stability in the region.

The Cypriot Minister of Defence subsequently visited the UAE in February 2021 during IDEX. He was received by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and had consultations with the Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Mr. Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi.

On 30 March 2021, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign affairs of Cyprus, Ambassador, Mr. Kornelios Korneliou had a very fruitful meeting in Dubai with the UAE Minister of State, Mrs. Reem Ebrahim Al-Hashimi, during which they discussed, among others, the participation of Cyprus to EXPO2020.

On 16 April 2021, and following the historic agreements for normalization of relations between the UAE and Israel, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, hosted in Pafos a quartet ministerial meeting with the UAE, Greece and Israel.

The meeting was driven by a common vision to promote stability, prosperity and peace in the wider Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East and Gulf region through close cooperation of like-minded countries, with an inclusive positive agenda.

On 22 June 2021, a Cypriot delegation, headed by the Permanent Secretary of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy and General Commissioner of Cyprus for EXPO 2020, Mr. Stelios Chimonas, visited the UAE and had consultations with the UAE Minister of State, Mrs. Reem Ebrahim Al-Hashimi and the President and CEO of the Dubai Chamber, Mr. Hamed Buamim.

On 2 October 2021 the Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Cyprus, Mrs. Natasa Pilides participated as a panelist in various fora at EXPO2020.

On 31 October 2021 the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mr. Perdios, paid a three-day visit to the UAE during which he made a presentation of the Cypriot tourism product and the new branding of Cyprus at the EXPO2020 Business Centre.

On 15 November 2021 the Cypriot Minister of Interior, Mr. Nicos Nouris, attended the Dubai 2021 Airshow and had a meeting with his Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.

The President of the Republic of Cyprus paid an official visit to the UAE for the National Day of Cyprus at EXPO2022 on 24 February 2022 and was welcomed by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Commissioner-General of Expo 2020 Dubai.

The Cypriot President met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The meeting explored new avenues to strengthen bilateral relations especially in the fields of business,investment and tourism as well as opportunities that can benefit the private sectors in both countries.

President Anastasiades and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed attended the signing of a Joint Declaration for a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Cyprus and UAE Governments, an MoU for Cooperation in the Field of Diplomatic Training between the Diplomatic Academy of the Republic of Cyprus and the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy of the UAE, an MoU for Cooperation in the Field of Maritime Transport as well as an MoU on Cybersecurity.

The President was accompanied by nine Government Ministers and Deputy Ministers who had separate meetings with their Emirati counterparts.

On 30 March 2022, the Cypriot Deputy Minister for Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Mr. Kyriakos Kokkinos, participated as a speaker in the World Government Forum in Dubai.

On 1st July 2022, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, received the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, Ioannis Kasoulides, and discussed the UAE-Cypriot strategic relations and ways to develop cooperation between the two countries in various fields. Foreign Minister Kasoulides also met with the Diplomatic Advisor to the UAE President, Dr. Anwar Gargash, with whom he reviewed issues of common concern and means to enhance cooperation.

Foreign Ministers, Ioannis Kasoulides and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, met again in New York on 25th September 2022, where they discussed the UAE-Cypriot strategic relations and reviewed issues on the agenda of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, including climate change, renewable energy and food security.

On 14th February 2023, Cyprus and the UAE signed an MoU on Experience Exchange in the Fields of Government Services and Capacity Building. The MoU was signed by the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Mr. Kyriacos Kokkinos and the Minister of State of the UAE for Government Development and the Future, Mrs. Ohood Khalfan Al Roumi.

On 21st February 2023, the Chief of the Cypriot National Guard, Lieutenant General Dimokritos Zervakis, met in Abu Dhabi, in the sidelines of IDEX/NAVDEX 2023 with the Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, Lieutenant General, Issa Saif Mohamed Al Mazrouei. The two sides reiterated their common will for the implementation of the bilateral Defense Cooperation.

On 27th April 2023, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was received by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, in the presence of his Cypriot counterpart, during his working visit to Nicosia, where the strong strategic ties between the Republic of Cyprus and the UAE were discussed, particularly in the areas of economy, commerce and investment.

The Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Costantinos Kombos paid an official visit to the UAE on 4th and 5th of June 2023, where he had successive meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Diplomatic Advisor to the UAE President, Dr. Anwar Gargash, during which the two sides reviewed the continuous development of the Cyprus-UAE cooperation across various domains.

On 21st June 2023, the Assistant Foreign Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs of the UAE, Mr. Saeed Al Hajeri, paid a working visit to Cyprus accompanied by an Emirati delegation. He made a curtesy call with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, in the presence of the Cypriot Foreign Minister, followed by official consultations on trade and investments.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, welcomes the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios, on his first official visit to the UAE on May 24, 1975.



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