Abu Dhabi, 27 May 2025 — The 4th High-Level Political Dialogue between the European Union (EU) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) took place in Abu Dhabi on 27 May 2025. The talks were co-chaired by Olof Skoog, Deputy Secretary-General of the European External Action Service (EEAS) for Political Affairs, and Her Excellency Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs and the Foreign Minister’s Envoy to the EU.

A major highlight of the meeting was the landmark launch of free trade negotiations between the EU and the UAE, marking a significant step towards deepening economic ties. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the EU-UAE partnership across political, economic, and regional dimensions.

Discussions focused on establishing a broader institutional framework through a proposed EU-UAE Strategic Partnership Agreement, enhancing bilateral cooperation and addressing shared interests in Europe and the Middle East.

The dialogue covered a wide range of pressing regional and international issues, including the conflict in Gaza, the situations in Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Yemen, Sudan, the security of the Red Sea, and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Both sides also reviewed collaboration in multilateral fora and global peace and security efforts.

In addition, the meeting explored ways to advance EU-GCC relations, emphasizing their strategic importance for the security and prosperity of both regions. This follows commitments made during the EU-GCC Summit in Brussels in October 2024, and comes in preparation for the UAE’s upcoming presidency of the GCC.

This dialogue underscores the growing momentum in EU-UAE relations, laying the groundwork for deeper collaboration in trade, diplomacy, and regional security.