The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that she will be travelling to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from October 22 to 24 to meet with counterparts and advance Canada-UAE bilateral relations. She will also travel to Armenia from October 25 to 27 to deepen Canada-Armenia bilateral ties.

“The UAE is a key partner and friend to Canada. We share many priorities, including in the areas of trade and global and regional security. I look forward to my first visit to Abu Dhabi and to exploring how we can strengthen our bilateral ties. Armenia is also an important partner of Canada in the Caucasus region, and we will continue to work with Armenian officials to advocate for a full humanitarian access and ensure the respect of human rights in the region.”

- Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs

• Canada and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have a strong bilateral relationship focused on building prosperity for both our countries, strengthening regional and global security, and contributing to economic and social development in third countries.

• Canada is represented in the UAE at its embassy in Abu Dhabi and consulate general in Dubai. The UAE is represented by its embassy in Ottawa.

• The UAE was Canada’s second most important merchandise trade partner in the Middle East and North Africa in 2021, after Saudi Arabia. In 2021, bilateral trade in goods between Canada and the UAE was worth $2.5 billion, an increase of 24.6% from 2020. 

• Canadian merchandise exports to the UAE in 2021 were worth $2 billion, an increase of 11% from 2020. Canada’s imports from the UAE in 2021 were valued at $549.9 million, an increase of 120.3% from 2020. The UAE’s foreign direct investment stock in Canada was valued at $1.3 billion in 2021.

• Last year, Minister Joly announced that Canada would further develop its relations with Armenia by opening an embassy in Yerevan, which will facilitate political and commercial ties between Canada and Armenia.

• Canada has made relations with Armenia a priority, building on a report prepared by Stéphane Dion, Ambassador to France and Monaco and Special Envoy to the European Union and Europe, on Canadian support for Armenia’s democratic development.

Associated links

• Canada-United Arab Emirates relations
• Canada-Armenia relations

Isabella Orozco-Madison
Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Isabella.Orozco-Madison@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
media@international.gc.ca
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