The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had sent a congratulatory message to President Luis Arce Catacora of the Plurinational State of Bolivia on the country’s Independence Day. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, along with His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, also dispatched similar messages to the Bolivian leader. The communications expressed wishes for further progress and prosperity for the people of Bolivia. Such exchanges form part of routine diplomatic protocol observed by the UAE with partner nations around the world.
Diplomatic relations between the UAE and Bolivia were established on December 1, 1986, according to Bolivia’s foreign relations documentation. Figures from the Observatory of Economic Complexity place recent bilateral trade with the UAE recording imports from Bolivia at $484 million against UAE exports of $9.56 million. The trade flow underscores Bolivia’s role as a supplier of minerals and agricultural goods sought by Gulf markets. The long-standing ties have enabled dialogue on shared priorities in international arenas.
President Luis Arce Catacora has held office since November 2020, according to official records from the Bolivian government. Bolivia marks its Independence Day each year on August 6, commemorating the 1825 proclamation of sovereignty from Spanish colonial rule that is highlighted in standard historical accounts of the region. The annual observance includes nationwide events that affirm the country’s distinct plurinational character.
The UAE maintains an active diplomatic footprint across Latin America, a pattern noted in assessments by regional foreign policy monitors. According to trade statistics, opportunities exist to expand non-hydrocarbon cooperation given Bolivia’s resource base and the UAE’s expertise in technology and sustainability initiatives. The latest messages reinforce the framework of mutual respect built since diplomatic ties began nearly four decades ago.
Bolivia operates an embassy in Abu Dhabi while the UAE has pursued broader engagement with Andean states through targeted agreements, as documented in bilateral communiques. A review of Gulf-Latin America interactions by international observers points to rising interest in investment flows and joint ventures over the past decade. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has consistently used such national occasions to affirm the strength of these partnerships.
