South Africa–United Arab Emirates relations

{{section-stub|date=May 2023}}

Diplomatic relations began when Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al-Nahyan visited South Africa in 1994 for the inauguration of President Nelson Mandela. The first UAE ambassador arrived in South Africa on 12 November 1995.{{Cite web |date=13 September 2015 |title=The United Arab Emirates |url=http://www.dirco.gov.za/foreign/bilateral/uae.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129133352/http://www.dirco.gov.za/foreign/bilateral/uae.html |archive-date=29 January 2022 |access-date=16 April 2023 |website=South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation}}

Economic ties between South Africa and the UAE have been particularly strong, with the UAE serving as an important trade and investment partner for South Africa in the Middle East. South Africa is one of the largest trading partners of the UAE in Africa, with bilateral trade between the two countries valued at over $3 billion in 2013.{{Cite web |title=South Africa, UAE bilateral trade valued at $3 billion |url=https://gulfnews.com/business/south-africa-uae-bilateral-trade-valued-at-3-billion-1.1207186 |access-date=2023-04-16 |website=gulfnews.com |language=en}} By 2021, South Africa exported US$4.47 billion to the UAE with the most significant exports being gold, diamonds and ferroalloys whilst the UAE exported US$ 2.4 billion mostly consisting of petroleum products and copper.{{Cite web |title=South Africa (ZAF) and United Arab Emirates (ARE) Trade {{!}} OEC |url=https://oec.world/en/profile/bilateral-country/zaf/partner/are |access-date=2023-04-16 |website=OEC - The Observatory of Economic Complexity |language=en}}

Cultural exchanges between South Africa and the UAE have also been significant, with both countries hosting various events and festivals to showcase their respective cultures. South African artists and performers have participated in events in the UAE, while Emirati cultural delegations have visited South Africa to promote intercultural understanding and cooperation.{{cn|date=April 2023}}

In recent years, there have been some challenges in the South African-UAE relationship. In 2022, two wanted fugitives, Atul and Rajesh Gupta, were arrested in the UAE on an Interpol red notice issued by South Africa to face fraud and money-laundering charges.{{Cite web |title=Interpol red notice: what it means and why SA requested it |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/fm/features/2022-03-08-interpol-red-notice-what-it-means-and-why-sa-requested-it/ |access-date=2022-03-10 |website=BusinessLIVE |language=en-ZA}}{{cite news |date=6 June 2022 |title=Atul and Rajesh Gupta nabbed in Dubai - report |language=en |work=Eyewitness News |url=https://ewn.co.za/2022/06/06/atul-and-rajesh-gupta-arrested-in-dubai-report}}{{cite web |title=South Africa: Wealthy Gupta brothers arrested in UAE |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-61713832 |access-date=7 June 2022 |publisher=BBC News}} The Guptas were controversially released by the UAE on a technicality{{Cite web |last=Haffajee |first=Ferial |date=2023-04-12 |title=THE GREAT ESCAPE : Dubai prosecutors confirmed in writing that the Gupta extradition documents were in order |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-04-12-dubai-prosecutors-confirmed-in-writing-that-the-gupta-extradition-documents-were-in-order/ |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-04-13 |title='Undermined' SA vows diplomatic blitz to arrest Guptas |url=https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/south-africa/undermined-sa-vows-diplomatic-blitz-to-arrest-guptas/ |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=Moneyweb |language=en}} with both government blaming each other for the failed extradition.{{Cite web |last=Maughan |first=Karyn |title=SA and UAE blame each other for Gupta extradition failure - but who's telling the truth? |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/sa-and-uae-blame-each-other-for-gupta-extradition-failure-but-whos-telling-the-truth-20230412-2 |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} It was reported in South Africa that the South African government was informed of the failed extradition six weeks after the Guptas lawyers had been informed thereby giving the Guptas time to leave the country.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-07 |title=UAE refuses South Africa's extradition request for Gupta brothers |url=https://mg.co.za/news/2023-04-07-uae-refuses-south-africas-extradition-request-for-gupta-brothers/ |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} This caused a serious diplomatic incident between the two countries.{{Cite web |last=Haffajee |first=Ferial |date=2023-04-12 |title=GREAT ESCAPE: South Africa set to démarche UAE ambassador on Guptas' extradition judgment failure |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-04-12-sa-to-demarche-uae-envoy-on-gupta-extradition-failure-sources/ |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}

A few days after it was announced in South Africa that the Guptas would not be extradited to South Africa it was reported in the South African media that President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and his family landed at the Waterkloof Air Force Base during their vacation to a South African game lodge in the Eastern Cape. The landing drew comparisons to the illegal landing of Gupta family members (known as Guptagate) at the same air force base to attend a wedding 10 years before.{{Cite web |last=Dayimani |first=Malibongwe |title=10 years since the Guptas at Waterkloof, UAE royals quietly landed at a South African military base |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/10-years-since-the-guptas-at-waterkloof-uae-royals-quietly-landed-at-a-south-african-military-base-20230419 |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Dentlinger |first=Lindsay |title=Cope, ATM call on Ramaphosa to justify UAE president's 'backdoor entry' into SA |url=https://ewn.co.za/2023/04/24/cope-atm-call-on-ramaphosa-to-justify-uae-president-s-backdoor-entry-into-sa |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=ewn.co.za |language=en}} During the same trip Al Nahyan had also landed at Bhisho Airport following a R20 million upgrade to it paid for by the UAE.{{Cite web |last=Dayimani |first=Malibongwe |title=UAE president lands in Eastern Cape on R20m runway he built for himself and his entourage |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/uae-president-lands-in-eastern-cape-on-r20m-runway-he-built-for-himself-and-his-entourage-20230420 |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Nkanjeni |first=Unathi |date=24 April 2023 |title='Did SA do everything required or is it another Gupta agreement?': Reactions to UAE president landing in Bhisho |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2023-04-24-did-sa-do-everything-required-or-is-it-another-gupta-agreement-reactions-to-uae-president-landing-in-bhisho/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=TimesLIVE |language=en-ZA}}

• South Africa has an embassy in Abu Dhabi and an consulate-general in Dubai.
• the United Arab Emirates has an embassy in Pretoria.

• Foreign relations of South Africa
• Foreign relations of United Arab Emirates

{{reflist}}

{{Foreign relations of the United Arab Emirates}}

{{Foreign relations of South Africa|expanded=Bilateral}}

{{Portal bar|Politics|South Africa|United Arab Emirates}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:South Africa-United Arab Emirates}}

United States

Category:Bilateral relations of South Africa