According to the Emirates News Agency, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan dispatched a congratulatory cable to President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea on the occasion of National Liberation Day. Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum along with Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent parallel messages to the Korean president. The communications highlighted the longstanding bonds between the two countries and extended best wishes for further advancement. The Emirates News Agency noted that such annual exchanges form part of regular diplomatic protocol maintained by UAE leadership.
National Liberation Day is observed each year on August 15 to commemorate the 1945 liberation of the Korean peninsula from Japanese colonial rule, according to records maintained by the National Folk Museum of Korea. The occasion, referred to as Gwangbokjeol in South Korea, functions as a public holiday that honours independence and related historical milestones. It stands as one of the few holidays recognised on both sides of the Korean divide, the museum’s documentation shows.
Diplomatic relations between the UAE and South Korea date to 1980, after which cooperation expanded across numerous domains, a review published by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicates. High-level visits and accords have reinforced the connection over subsequent decades. The partnership has evolved to encompass strategic coordination in several priority areas.
Figures from the UAE Ministry of Economy placed non-oil foreign trade between the two countries at $5.3 billion by the end of 2022, an increase of more than 14 percent from the prior year. South Korea ranks as the UAE’s 14th-largest trading partner according to data compiled by the Observatory of Economic Complexity. Primary South Korean exports to the UAE include motor vehicles, machinery and electronic components while energy products flow in the other direction.
South Korea secured the contract to construct the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the UAE, a landmark project that began in 2009 and represents the first commercial nuclear facility in the Arab world, according to joint government statements from both sides. The initiative has underpinned broader energy collaboration between the nations. Further joint efforts extend into defence, technology transfer and infrastructure sectors.
The two governments agreed in subsequent pacts to widen economic cooperation across 11 strategic sectors, the UAE Ministry of Economy reported. These arrangements seek to increase mutual investments and broaden the scope of bilateral engagement. Trade data for 2024 from the Observatory of Economic Complexity showed continued growth in vehicle and parts exports from South Korea to the UAE exceeding $700 million combined.
