UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent a message of congratulations to Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides on the occasion of Independence Day, according to a report by the state news agency WAM. Vice President and Prime Minister of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum along with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum issued similar cables. The messages expressed wishes for the Cypriot president’s continued success and for the people of Cyprus to enjoy further progress and stability in the years ahead. They also underscored the depth of friendship and cooperation between the two nations.
Cyprus observes Independence Day each year on October 1 to mark its emergence as a sovereign state, according to historical records compiled by the BBC. Although the Zurich and London Agreements formally established the republic on August 16 1960 the public holiday was later set for early October to enable fuller participation in ceremonies and parades. A military procession through Nicosia typically forms the centerpiece of events with the president delivering an address afterward as Cyprus Mail reported during the 2025 observances.
Bilateral economic links between the UAE and Cyprus have expanded significantly with non-oil trade climbing nearly 40 percent in the first nine months of 2025 relative to the prior year a development highlighted by UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi during a December 2025 visit to Nicosia. The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding to create a joint business and investment council during that trip according to Cyprus Business News. Officials pointed to shared strengths in maritime activities fintech real estate and renewable energy as promising areas for closer collaboration.
United Nations COMTRADE database figures show Cyprus exported goods worth 46.83 million dollars to the UAE in 2025 with tobacco food preparations and vessels among the leading categories. In the reverse direction the UAE shipped approximately 61.4 million dollars worth of products to Cyprus in 2024 including substantial volumes of aluminum and essential oils. These flows illustrate a maturing economic relationship that complements the diplomatic goodwill conveyed in the leaders’ messages.
The 2026 celebration represents the 66th anniversary of Cyprus’s independence from British administration which followed years of negotiations after a guerrilla campaign in the 1950s according to accounts maintained by Wikipedia and other historical summaries. The island has since navigated complex regional dynamics including the events of 1974 that left it divided. The UAE has repeatedly voiced support for Cyprus’s unity and sovereignty within recognized international boundaries in various multilateral settings.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s cable in particular emphasized the UAE’s interest in broadening ties across political economic and cultural domains WAM stated in its dispatch. Comparable language appeared in the communications from the other UAE leaders. Such annual exchanges have become a regular feature of the diplomatic calendar reinforcing relations established decades ago between Abu Dhabi Nicosia and the wider Gulf region.
