ASEAN, United Arab Emirates reaffirm commitment to deepen partnership

Jakarta, 12 November 2025 - ASEAN and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reaffirmed commitment to further deepening their partnership at the 3^rd Meeting of the ASEAN-UAE Joint Sectoral Cooperation Committee held at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta today.

The Meeting noted the progress made in the second year of implementation of the ASEAN-UAE Sectoral Dialogue Partnership: Practical Cooperation Areas (PCA) (2024-2028). Both sides recognised cooperation in some areas such as maritime cooperation; peace and reconciliation; trade and investment; digital economy; tourism; sustainable agriculture; people-to-people exchanges; disaster management and humanitarian assistance; and Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) and Narrowing the Development Gap (NDG).

ASEAN and the UAE shared the view that there remain tremendous opportunities for closer collaboration and recognised the need to work closely to tap the full potentials of the partnership for mutual benefit. ASEAN encouraged the UAE to support the ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future and its Strategic Plans while actively undertaking practical cooperation with ASEAN across the four identified key areas of cooperation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). ASEAN also encouraged the UAE to support the implementation of the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan (ACSP) and the IAI Work Plan V and welcomed collaboration with ASEAN centres of excellence.

Looking ahead, both sides explored the opportunities to continue strengthening collaboration in the areas of mutual interest as guided by the PCA 2024-2028, including peace and reconciliation; peacebuilding and conflict resolution strategies; good governance; women's empowerment; poverty alleviation; social welfare and development; finance and banking; digital integration and ecommerce; as well as smart city development.

The Meeting took note of progress on the ASEAN Smart Cities Network initiative, and ASEAN's effort to promote sustainable development and narrow the development gap.

Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Economic Community, H.E. Satvinder Singh, and Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Indonesia, H.E. Abdulla Salem Obaid AlDhaheri, co-chaired the meeting. Members of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN or their representatives and their respective delegations were in attendance. The ASEAN Secretariat officials were also in attendance.