The United Arab Emirates and Ireland held their inaugural meeting of the Joint Economic Committee, which was announced in April this year.
This meeting brought together government officials, business leaders, and private sector representatives from both countries to discuss opportunities for collaboration aimed at strengthening economic relations.
During the meeting in Abu Dhabi, His Excellency Saeed bin Mubarak Al-Hajri, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, welcomed Peter Burke, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment from Ireland.
In his opening remarks, Al-Hajri emphasized the constructive role of the Joint Economic Committee as a platform for ongoing dialogue and partnership, highlighting key sectors where both countries align in their objectives, including technology, renewable energy, agriculture, life sciences, and sustainable infrastructure. He stressed the importance of cooperation to stimulate and enhance bilateral economic relations, creating a conducive environment for mutual investment and innovation-driven growth.
Al-Hajri stated, “The Joint Economic Committee embodies our shared commitment to enhancing collaboration between our nations, providing a vital opportunity to strengthen our economic partnership. We are eager to explore and create new opportunities for our private sectors, benefiting both countries and advancing our common ambitions. By leveraging the dynamic business ecosystem of the UAE and its strategic location as a global hub, we can collectively facilitate increased trade and investment, unlocking substantial growth for our companies.”
Non-oil trade between the UAE and Ireland has experienced a notable revival, rising by 12.7% in the first nine months of 2025, reaching $1.1 billion. This figure reinforces the solid foundation both nations have for continuing to solidify their trading relationships, considering that their non-oil trade amounted to $1.2 billion in 2024, marking a 12.6% increase compared to the previous year.
Peter Burke remarked, “We greatly value our close relationship with the UAE, and the first meeting of the Joint Economic Committee presents an important opportunity to enhance and develop the ties between our countries. Ireland is fully committed to expanding trade, investment, and tourism with the UAE, creating new opportunities for small and medium enterprises, and advancing priority areas of collaboration amidst the evolving global trade landscape.”
The Joint Economic Committee meeting was attended by several Emirati officials, including Mohammed Al-Shamsi, UAE Ambassador to Ireland, Fahd Al-Qarqawi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Trade, Imran Sharaf, Assistant Minister for Advanced Sciences and Technology, Hamid Bin Salem, Secretary-General of the UAE Chambers, and Rasha Al-Mazrouei, CEO of Etihad Credit Insurance.
From the Irish side, the meeting included Robert Troy, Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Dara O’Brien, Minister for Climate, Energy and Environment, alongside about 30 officials and representatives from various business and economic entities in Ireland, along with representatives from both the government and private sectors in the UAE.
Aroundtable discussion followed the meeting of the Joint Economic Committee, facilitating discourse among private sector representatives from both the UAE and Ireland.
In his opening speech, Al-Hajri welcomed the participants, highlighting the importance of collaboration to enhance investment flows, and encouraged Irish investors to take advantage of the abundant opportunities available as the UAE continues its quest to diversify and develop its knowledge-based economy. He also pointed out the UAE’s strategic position as a trade corridor between East and West, along with business-friendly regulations allowing for full foreign ownership in various sectors, including services, tourism, and banking, as well as expanding opportunities in technology and artificial intelligence.
Through the Joint Economic Committee, the UAE and Ireland are committed to building a sustainable economic partnership that yields mutual benefits and supports the aspirations of both nations. The discussions during the inaugural meeting and business roundtable have paved the way for future cooperation, focusing on developing existing business and investment relationships, addressing common challenges, and maximizing private sector engagement.