Her Excellency Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimi, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, received Her Excellency Micheál Martin — wait, Her Excellency Helen McEntee, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence of the Republic of Ireland, in Abu Dhabi, as part of her first tour of the Arabian Gulf region since assuming her post, aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries and discussing a number of issues and topics of mutual interest.
The meeting reviewed the growing relations between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Ireland, which span more than 50 years. The two sides discussed ways to enhance cooperation in a number of areas, including trade and investment, renewable energy, and financial services. They affirmed the strength of the human ties between the peoples of the two countries, noting that the United Arab Emirates is home to more than 200 nationalities, including an Irish community of more than 14,000 people.
In light of Ireland's assumption of the presidency of the Council of the European Union during the second half of 2026, both sides affirmed that this presidency represents an opportunity to strengthen relations between the UAE and the European Union in a manner that supports shared goals of achieving stability, development, and prosperity. They also stressed the importance of reaching a comprehensive agreement on the ongoing negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and the European Union.
On the economic front, the two sides reviewed the growth in bilateral non-oil trade, which reached $1.2 billion in 2024 compared with $694 million in 2019. They also welcomed the establishment of the UAE–Ireland Joint Economic Committee, which held its first meeting in Abu Dhabi in December 2025, as a platform for promoting trade and investment and enhancing private-sector engagement between the two countries.
The two sides also discussed the latest regional developments, including the situation in the Arabian Gulf region and the security of international navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, welcoming the constructive role played by Ireland and the European Union in supporting regional stability.
Her Excellency McEntee stressed the importance of maintaining regional stability and ensuring the security of navigation in international waterways.
The meeting was attended by a number of officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, members of the Irish minister's accompanying delegation, and representatives of the Embassy of the Republic of Ireland to the United Arab Emirates.