Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
Economic and strategic ties between the UAE and Cyprus reached new heights in 2025, driven by growing trade, investment, and high-level diplomatic engagement.
Non-oil foreign trade between the two countries rose sharply, reaching approximately $176 million from January to September. This marks a 39.4% increase compared with the same period in 2024 and about 25.1% above 2023 figures.
Relations between the UAE and Cyprus have deep historical roots, particularly in the economic sector, dating back to the 1960s when many Cypriot expatriates lived and worked in the Emirates.
In 1977, the Cypriot Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism established the Cyprus Trade Organisation in Dubai to attract foreign direct investment from the UAE.
Since the formal establishment of diplomatic relations in 2007, both countries have worked to broaden cooperation across political, economic, and cultural fields.
The year 2025 saw a number of high-level visits, further cementing bilateral relations.
In January, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, visited Nicosia and met with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.
Both leaders reaffirmed the depth of UAE-Cyprus relations and discussed regional and international issues, including developments in the Middle East.
In November, Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, Minister of State, held talks with Cypriot Foreign Minister Dr Constantinos Kombos and Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna.
The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation ahead of Cyprus' EU Council Presidency in 2026, with an emphasis on regional priorities promoting coexistence, dialogue, and humanitarian diplomacy across the Mediterranean-Gulf region.
Both sides reaffirmed the UAE-Cyprus Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, launched in 2022, as a framework for elevating relations across political, security, economic, and cultural fields.
They agreed to advance the next phase of the partnership, focusing on joint projects in clean energy, digital transformation, and maritime connectivity, supported by a dedicated mechanism to track progress.
The officials also explored opportunities for collaboration in renewable energy, digital connectivity, maritime security, and humanitarian response, while stressing the ongoing importance of people-to-people engagement and exchange as a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship.
On December 13, a UAE delegation led by Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, visited Nicosia to engage with Cypriot leadership and business communities. The visit culminated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding establishing the UAE-Cyprus Business Council - a formal platform to accelerate trade, investment, and private-sector collaboration across key sectors.
