Relationship dossier
Ethiopia
United Arab Emirates
Relationship assessment
Cooperation shaped by Emirati financial support, investment pledges and regional diplomacy
Ethiopia toward United Arab Emirates
+45The Ethiopian government has welcomed Emirati financial assistance and investment and has engaged the UAE in bilateral economic and security cooperation. Ethiopia also participated in diplomatic initiatives facilitated by the UAE concerning regional peace.
United Arab Emirates toward Ethiopia
+50The UAE provided substantial financial support to Ethiopia in 2018, including a deposit of US$1 billion at Ethiopia’s central bank, and announced broader aid and investment commitments. Emirati diplomacy also supported efforts toward peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Overall relationship
+45The relationship is characterized by concrete financial and investment support from the UAE, alongside diplomatic engagement and security cooperation. These features indicate a cooperative bilateral structure, although the scale and durability of particular 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
Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates have developed a cooperative relationship, including substantial Emirati financial support and investment pledges to Ethiopia and UAE involvement in diplomatic efforts connected to regional peace. The relationship also includes security cooperation, though its scope and implementation are not fully clear.
Key developments
The UAE provided a US$1 billion deposit to Ethiopia’s central bank and announced a broader package of aid and investment commitments.
The UAE supported diplomatic efforts connected to the Ethiopia–Eritrea peace process.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of bilateral economic and security agreements are unclear.
- The extent of continuing cooperation across different Ethiopian governments is uncertain.