His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Vice President Francia Márquez of Colombia in New York according to the Emirates News Agency. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly where the two officials examined opportunities to expand partnerships. Discussions covered potential advancements in investment, food security and advanced technology as both countries seek to build on existing agreements. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement indicated that the talks also addressed regional and international developments of mutual concern.
Colombia and the UAE have expanded their economic engagement in recent years with non-oil bilateral trade reaching $553 million in 2023. UAE Ministry of Economy data shows that figure represented a 43 percent increase from 2022 levels. The two nations signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in 2023 that is projected to drive non-oil trade above $1 billion within five years of its implementation. UAE exports to Colombia totaled $135.87 million in 2024 according to United Nations COMTRADE data with aircraft, vehicles and electrical equipment among the leading categories.[[1]](https://tradingeconomics.com/united-arab-emirates/exports/colombia)
The meeting between Abdullah bin Zayed and the Vice President of Colombia in New York aligns with a pattern of high-level diplomatic contacts that have intensified since the early 2010s. Colombia maintains an embassy in Abu Dhabi while the UAE has continued to deepen its Latin American outreach through trade missions and direct flights. Emirates launched a direct route to Bogotá in 2024 which has facilitated greater business travel and tourism between the two countries according to reports from The National.
Both sides expressed commitment to collaboration on climate initiatives during the New York discussion the Emirates News Agency reported. The UAE has positioned itself as a leader in renewable energy investments while Colombia has advanced its own sustainability goals in line with global environmental targets. The officials noted ongoing work to align efforts ahead of international forums including the UAE-hosted 2026 United Nations Water Conference.
Trade patterns illustrate the complementary nature of the two economies with Colombia exporting gold, coffee and precious metals to the UAE. In return the UAE has supplied manufactured goods and technology that support Colombian industries. A 2024 meeting between the UAE ambassador to Colombia and the Colombian finance minister highlighted additional economic agreements aimed at attracting investment the Wikipedia entry on bilateral relations cited. These developments provide context for the latest high-level engagement in New York.
The UAE delegation at the General Assembly has conducted multiple bilateral meetings this week focusing on sustainable development and multilateral cooperation. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed has emphasized the importance of dialogue in addressing global challenges according to statements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The encounter with the Colombian Vice President forms part of this broader diplomatic schedule that seeks to advance practical partnerships across continents.
