Relationship dossier
Serbia
United Arab Emirates
Relationship assessment
A close strategic partnership built on political engagement, investment and aviation cooperation
Serbia toward United Arab Emirates
+70Serbia has pursued a strategic partnership with the UAE through bilateral agreements and sustained high-level political engagement. Serbian cooperation with UAE-linked partners helped establish Air Serbia, reflecting substantive economic and aviation ties.
United Arab Emirates toward Serbia
+75The UAE has invested substantially in Serbia, including through Etihad's 49 percent stake in the venture that created Air Serbia and UAE-linked investment in the Belgrade Waterfront project. These initiatives have anchored a wider strategic and economic partnership.
Overall relationship
+70The relationship is structured by a strategic partnership and sustained political engagement, with significant UAE-linked investment and cooperation in aviation and urban development. The UAE's recognition of Kosovo is a substantive political difference, but the partnership has continued despite it.
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
Serbia and the United Arab Emirates have developed a close strategic partnership, supported by high-level political engagement, bilateral agreements, and substantial investment ties. Cooperation has included the UAE-linked establishment of Air Serbia and investment in the Belgrade Waterfront project. The UAE's recognition of Kosovo remains a notable difference in their positions, but has not prevented extensive cooperation.
Areas of tension
- The UAE's recognition of Kosovo differs from Serbia's position on Kosovo's status.
Key developments
Serbia and the UAE established a strategic partnership, followed by expanded bilateral agreements and cooperation.
Etihad acquired a 49 percent stake in the venture that established Air Serbia with Serbia's national carrier.
UAE-linked Eagle Hills entered into the Belgrade Waterfront development project.
Major uncertainties
- The implementation and current scope of the many bilateral agreements are unclear.
- The scale and terms of ongoing UAE-linked investment in Serbia are uncertain.