Relationship dossier
People's Republic of China
United Arab Emirates
Relationship assessment
A broad China–UAE partnership spanning investment, energy, infrastructure and health cooperation
People's Republic of China toward United Arab Emirates
+60China has pursued a comprehensive strategic partnership with the UAE, including cooperation on investment, energy and infrastructure. Chinese and Emirati entities also cooperated on local production in the UAE of a Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine, and Chinese leaders have engaged in high-level bilateral visits.
United Arab Emirates toward People's Republic of China
+60The UAE has developed its comprehensive strategic partnership with China through cooperation on investment, energy, infrastructure and health. Emirati authorities enabled local production of a Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine in the UAE and have maintained high-level engagement with Chinese counterparts.
Overall relationship
+60The relationship is underpinned by a comprehensive strategic partnership and recurring practical cooperation across several sectors, including investment, energy, infrastructure and health. These arrangements and high-level engagement indicate a durable, substantially cooperative relationship, though the scope and implementation of commitments are not fully clear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
China and the United Arab Emirates have developed a broad, sustained partnership covering trade, energy, investment, infrastructure and health cooperation. Their 2018 comprehensive strategic partnership and subsequent high-level engagement have supported practical collaboration, including local production of a Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine in the UAE. The relationship is substantial, while its implementation and the balance of cooperation across sectors may vary.
Key developments
China and the UAE established a comprehensive strategic partnership.
The UAE began local production of a Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine in cooperation with Chinese partners.
Chinese President Xi Jinping made a state visit to the UAE, with bilateral cooperation discussed and agreements signed.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of bilateral investment and infrastructure commitments are unclear.
- The extent of ongoing cooperation in technology, security and energy is uncertain.