The Emirates News Agency reported that Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan dispatched a cable to President Gabriel Boric Font conveying congratulations on the national occasion while wishing him good health and the Chilean people continued progress and prosperity. Vice President and Prime Minister of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum along with Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Presidential Court Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent similar messages highlighting the depth of bilateral friendship. The communications align with standard diplomatic practice on national days between nations that maintain active political and commercial engagement.
Chile commemorates its Independence Day on September 18 each year to mark the 1810 declaration that initiated the process of separation from Spanish colonial rule according to historical accounts published by ThoughtCo. The date has evolved into a two-day national holiday that includes parades and cultural events as established through successive decrees in the 19th and 20th centuries. By 1837 authorities had consolidated multiple independence-related observances into the September 18 commemoration a step that underscored the event’s central place in national identity.
Bilateral trade between the UAE and Chile has shown steady expansion with United Nations COMTRADE data placing UAE exports to Chile at $118.53 million in 2024. The same database recorded Chilean exports to the UAE at $179.9 million in 2025 led by edible fruits nuts and wood products. These flows form the foundation for broader cooperation that has accelerated since the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in July 2024.
The UAE-Chile CEPA entered into force on November 24 2025 according to announcements from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade and is projected to triple non-oil trade volumes past $500 million within five years. Gulf News cited ministry figures showing that UAE non-oil foreign trade with Chile reached $270 million in 2024 before climbing 7.1 percent year-on-year to $153 million in the first half of 2025. The pact eliminates or reduces tariffs on approximately 99.5 percent of traded goods while opening avenues for collaboration in renewable energy agriculture tourism and mining.
Chile’s status as a leading producer of copper and lithium has drawn UAE investment including Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company’s acquisition of fruit exporter Verfrut and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority’s stake in the Mercado Urbano Tobalaba urban market project the Ministry of Foreign Trade noted in its CEPA overview. Such investments illustrate the practical results of diplomatic goodwill expressed on occasions such as Independence Day. The Presidential Court and other UAE entities continue to view Chile as a strategic partner in South America for diversifying economic links beyond traditional markets.
Additional cables of congratulations were issued by UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh the Emirates News Agency stated. These messages reiterated the UAE’s desire to strengthen existing bonds in political economic and cultural fields. The exchange of greetings on September 18 2026 underscores the continuity of high-level engagement that has characterised relations since the CEPA negotiations began.
