The Emirates News Agency reported that Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan dispatched a cable to Recep Tayyip Erdogan extending congratulations on behalf of the UAE people and government. Vice President and Prime Minister of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent parallel messages to the Turkish president. The communications expressed wishes for further progress and prosperity for the Turkish people while affirming the strength of bilateral relations between the two countries. Similar greetings were conveyed to Turkish Vice President Cevdet Ilmaz.
According to the Turkish Presidency, Republic Day commemorates the proclamation of the republic on October 29, 1923, when the Grand National Assembly declared the new form of government and elected Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as its first president. The date marks the culmination of the War of Independence and the shift from dynastic rule to popular sovereignty. Turkish government records indicate that the holiday features nationwide parades, cultural events and official ceremonies each year to honor the founding principles.
The exchange of messages comes amid deepened diplomatic engagement between the UAE and Türkiye. A visit by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Türkiye in July 2025 produced the first meeting of the High-Level Strategic Council between the two countries, where seven agreements were signed, Turkish officials stated. The two sides have coordinated on regional issues and multilateral forums in the years since the council was established.
Economic ties have expanded rapidly under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement that took effect in September 2023. Gulf News reported that the pact has driven a near tripling of non-oil trade compared with 2022 levels. Data presented by UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi during a 2026 visit to Istanbul showed sustained momentum in bilateral commerce.
The UAE Ministry of Economy placed non-oil foreign trade with Türkiye at more than 45.2 billion dollars in 2025, reflecting 15.5 percent annual growth from the prior year. Observatory of Economic Complexity figures show Turkish exports to the UAE reached 8.21 billion dollars in the same period, with jewellery, gold and refined petroleum among the leading categories. UAE exports to Türkiye were led by gold, raw aluminium and refined petroleum, according to the same dataset.
Turkish Ambassador to the UAE Lutfullah Goktas told Khaleej Times that bilateral non-oil trade between September 2024 and August 2025 stood at approximately 44 billion dollars, an increase of 12 percent despite external pressures. The ambassador highlighted cooperation in energy, logistics, technology and financial services as areas of continued focus. Both governments have described the partnership as strategic and oriented toward long-term investment flows.
