UAE leaders extended congratulatory messages to the president of North Macedonia as the country marked its Independence Day, according to a report from the Emirates News Agency. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum conveyed their wishes for further progress and prosperity to Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova and the people of North Macedonia. The exchange reflects ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two nations that has expanded in recent years through high-level visits and agreements. This latest outreach aligns with the UAE’s established practice of recognizing national milestones among its international partners.
North Macedonia observes its Independence Day each year on September 8 to mark the 1991 referendum in which more than 95 percent of voters supported sovereignty from Yugoslavia, historical records of the event show. The declaration of independence followed shortly afterward, with the adoption of a new constitution in November of that year. International recognition came in 1993 under a provisional name before the country resolved its long-standing naming dispute with Greece through the 2019 Prespa Agreement, enabling its current designation.
Diplomatic relations between the UAE and North Macedonia have deepened since formal ties were established, with North Macedonia maintaining an embassy in Abu Dhabi while the UAE is represented through its embassy in Rome, according to an overview of bilateral relations. The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on visa exemptions following a 2023 meeting between Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and then-North Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski. These steps have paved the way for increased official contacts focused on economic and political cooperation.
A high-level North Macedonian delegation led by Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski visited the UAE in April 2025 to discuss infrastructure projects and investment opportunities with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The talks produced an announcement that travel between the two countries would proceed on a visa-free basis for holders of either nation’s passports. Such engagements have contributed to a framework that supports broader collaboration across multiple sectors.
Trade flows have expanded notably in recent years, with UN Comtrade Database figures showing that UAE exports to North Macedonia reached $126 million in 2023, a 55 percent increase from the previous year. Electrical machinery and equipment formed the largest category of shipments while other exports included mechanical appliances and optical instruments. The trade surplus in favor of the UAE stood at nearly $120 million that year, underscoring the direction of commercial ties.
Non-oil trade between Dubai and North Macedonia accumulated to AED 1.8 billion across the five years through 2024, a Dubai Chambers assessment found during a delegation visit to Skopje. The number of North Macedonian companies registered with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce grew by 522 percent to 56 by the middle of 2025. Discussions during that trip highlighted potential in energy, tourism, agriculture, technology and other fields where both sides see scope for joint projects.
