The United Arab Emirates continues its active support of Ukraine in terms of the war with russia. Since February 24, 2024, the UAE has sent 14 aircraft to Poland, Moldova and Bulgaria with more than 1,000 tons of food, medicine and 50 ambulances as part of emergency relief efforts to help the civilian population of Ukraine. Our country also received a large batch of generators from the UAE.
The Emirates have been an effective mediator in the difficult negotiations on the exchange of prisoners between Ukraine and Russia. The UAE uses its diplomatic ties with both sides to provide a neutral channel of communication. This allows them to organize exchanges even when official negotiations between Ukraine and russia are complicated. With the support of the country, more than 2,000 Ukrainian defenders, including those from Mariupol, have been returned since the beginning of the full-scale war.
The Ukrainian diaspora in the United Arab Emirates strongly supports Ukraine during the war against russia by providing humanitarian, financial and organizational assistance. Fundraisers are organized to purchase necessary items such as medical supplies, warm clothing, generators and other equipment for Ukrainians affected by the war. At the same time, diaspora communities finance the purchase of drones, bulletproof vests, thermal imagers, and other necessary materials for the Ukrainian military. Part of the funds raised are used for technical modernization and repair of armored vehicles. Charity events, exhibitions and concerts with Ukrainian artists are organized. These events draw the international community’s attention to the situation in Ukraine, helping to raise funds and build a positive image of the country.
On April 26, 2024, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates concluded negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and signed a joint statement on it. This agreement is aimed at deepening economic, trade and investment ties between the countries. The main aspects of the agreement are:
This is the first agreement of such level for Ukraine with the countries of the Gulf region. Its implementation opens up new opportunities for Ukrainian and Emirati companies, strengthening Ukraine’s position in the global market.
In 2023, trade relations between Ukraine and the UAE continued to develop despite the challenges of war. The total trade volume amounted to about $386 million. This is significantly less than before the war (about $616 million in 2021), but indicates a gradual resumption of economic cooperation (+28.7% compared to 2022). The main exports to the UAE are agricultural products, especially cereals, sunflower oil, and food. The food sector remains important due to the priority of food security for the Middle East. Ukraine imported $164 million worth of goods from the Emirates, more than half of which were energy resources. Ukrainian companies also bought electrical machinery and plastics, polymeric materials.
The United Arab Emirates remains an important commercial partner for Dnipropetrovsk region as well. The level of partnerships is evidenced by the bilateral analysis of foreign trade.
The Arab companies are most interested in ferrous metal products, fats and vegetable oil, meat and edible offal, edible fruits and nuts, etc. The volume of exports of goods from Dnipropetrovsk region increased by 78% compared to 2022 and amounted to $32.3 million (15% of the total Ukrainian).
38 companies in Dnipropetrovsk region exported their products to the UAE market, including metallurgical, food, machine-building and processing industries.
TOP 5 exporters in terms of exported volume include are the following:
In turn, 24 importers in the region bought mostly the following Arab goods: plastics and polymeric materials, glass and glass products, oil and its distillation products, electrical machinery, and others. Imports of goods from the UAE to Dnipropetrovsk region decreased by 18.6% and amounted to $6.4 million.
TOP 5 importers by imported volume are the following companies:
Import operations were mainly carried out by metallurgical, processing, and trade enterprises.
Source: information for the article was taken from open online sources
