The economic partnership between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the UAE is expanding beyond oil and tourism, with both sides increasing cooperation in green energy, technology, food security and connectivity.
ASEAN will mark its 59th anniversary on August 8, with its eleven member states raising the ASEAN flag at diplomatic missions worldwide, including in the UAE. The bloc was established in 1967 after the Bangkok Declaration was signed by its five founding members. Timor-Leste officially joined ASEAN last year.
ASEAN was initially established to promote economic growth, social progress and cultural development. Its role has since expanded, with the bloc developing formal partnerships with 27 countries and 11 organisations, including the UAE and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
The UAE appointed its first accredited Ambassador to ASEAN in 2010. It became ASEAN's Sectoral Dialogue Partner in 2022, and signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. This treaty emphasizes respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference.
Areas of cooperation have broadened within the framework of the Practical Cooperation Areas (2024-2028) that include political and security, economic, and socio-cultural matters such as maritime cooperation, food security, humanitarian assistance, and connectivity.
The growing economic relationship is reflected in trade and investment figures.
Total trade between ASEAN and the UAE reached $70 billion (Dh257 billion) in 2025. The UAE's FDI stock in ASEAN stands at $245.7 billion, underlining the scale of investment between the two regions.
Travel has also grown. More than 368,969 visitors from the UAE travelled to ASEAN last year, according to the report.
The partnership is also moving into emerging sectors. As ASEAN works to accelerate its energy transition, the UAE has emerged as a major catalyst for green infrastructure. Investment in floating solar power plants and energy pipelines is assisting in meeting the energy needs of the region using renewables.
Data centers and semiconductors are other sectors where collaboration is taking place. The UAE, with its sovereign funds and ambitions to develop AI, needs computational devices, which would need a manufacturing ecosystem that the ASEAN countries can provide.
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The ASEAN-GCC-China summit was organized as a part of Malaysia's ASEAN chairmanship in 2025. His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah from the UAE, advocated for a relationship that transcends business and technology and that is based on trust, long-standing friendship, and common belief in the future of the partnership.
In view of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045: Our Shared Future adopted last year, the partnership is set to facilitate a resilient, innovative, dynamic and people-centric ASEAN community.