President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent a cable of congratulations to President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. of the Republic of Palau according to a report by the Emirates News Agency. The message extended best wishes for the president’s personal well-being as well as for the continued progress and prosperity of the people of Palau. Vice President Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan dispatched similar messages on the occasion of the October 1 anniversary.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that diplomatic relations between the two countries were established at the ambassadorial level on October 16 2009. Bilateral cooperation has since expanded in areas including civil aviation environmental protection and renewable energy with both sides committed to further growth through high-level visits. President Whipps visited the UAE in January 2023 to attend Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week where he held meetings with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi.
A minister of state from Palau paid an official visit to the UAE in August 2023 which included the initial signing of an air services agreement between the two nations. Additional pacts covering investment promotion and protection as well as avoidance of double taxation were concluded on the sidelines of COP28 in December 2023. These agreements form part of a framework that has deepened economic and environmental collaboration between the Gulf state and the Pacific island nation.
The congratulations arrive weeks after the UAE gained formal recognition as a strategic partner of the Pacific Islands Forum during the 55th leaders’ meeting held in Koror Palau. Minister of State Noura Al Kaabi represented President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed at the forum where she conveyed greetings from UAE leadership and highlighted two decades of cooperation on climate resilience energy transition and sustainable development. The UAE now joins 12 other global partners including the United States China and the European Union in this status according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Palau marks its independence annually on October 1 to commemorate its emergence as a sovereign state in 1994 after years under a United Nations trust territory administered by the United States. Celebrations typically feature cultural events boat races and community gatherings that underscore the nation’s commitment to preserving its traditions and values. The Pacific Community has noted that the 32nd anniversary in 2026 continues this tradition of reflection on self-governance and regional identity.
Bilateral ties have been further strengthened through joint efforts on marine conservation and capacity building with Palau serving as a key partner for the UAE in Pacific outreach. Al Kaabi stated during the September 2026 forum that the partnership builds on mutual respect and shared goals for sustainable development across the region. The latest diplomatic gestures reaffirm the steady advancement of relations first formalised more than 15 years ago.
