UAE, Indonesia… Historical relations promoted by mutual visits
Historical relations between the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia are approaching their fifth decade, bolstered by common interests and mutual visits.
The United Arab Emirates and Indonesia enjoy long-term bilateral relations based on a joint commitment to achieving cooperation in all fields, foremost among them trade and investment between the two friendly countries.
The policies of the two countries are consistent in renouncing violence and extremism, promoting interreligious dialog to bring together people of different ethnicities and cultures, and jointly promoting the tolerant values of Islam, which call for peace, prosperity, harmony and lasting tolerance.
Historical relations:
Official diplomatic relations between the UAE and Indonesia began in 1976. Following this, Indonesia opened its embassy in Abou Dabi on October 28, 1978 at the charge d’affaires level.
In 2003, Indonesia opened its Consulate General in Dubai in February 2003, the Trade Promotion Office in February 2003, and the Indonesian Investment Promotion Office in 2010.
“On June 10, 1991, the UAE opened its embassy in Jakarta, while the UAE Red Crescent office opened in Jakarta in 1997″.
“The UAE opened a consular services office in August 2014, followed by the opening of a military attaché in Jakarta in April 2019″.
Mutual visits strengthen ties:
The UAE-Indonesia relations reached a new level when Sheikh Zayed ben Sultan Al Nahyane, the founder of the UAE, visited Indonesia in May 1990. The visit was a turning point in the strengthening of relations between the two countries.
In May 2006, former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visited the UAE.
Sheikh Abdallah ben Zayed Al Nahyane, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, made two visits to Indonesia in October 2010 and November 2014.
“From 13 to 14 September 2015, Indonesian President Joko Widodo visited the UAE“.
“On 24 July 2019, Abou Dabi’s Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohammed ben Zayed Al Nahyane, visited Indonesia”.
Today, November 4, Sheikh Mohammed ben Zayed Al Nahyane received Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the Beach Palace.
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Economic cooperation:
These historical relations and mutual visits between the two countries have enriched economic cooperation between the two countries, bringing the volume of trade exchange to $860 million between January and March 2019, reaching $3.3 billion by the end of 2018 and $3.7 billion by the end of 2017.
The UAE’s most important exports to Indonesia are petroleum, chemicals and their products, aluminum and its manufactures, iron and steel, dates and plastics.
The UAE’s main imports from Indonesia include timber, textiles, tea, coffee, paper of all types, electrical equipment, rubber and wood products, engines and bicycles, gold and precious metals and their products.
Commercial flights:
The number of daily direct flights to and from Indonesia by Emirates Airlines was 4 (2 to Jakarta, 2 to Bali, including one to Auckland) and 2 to Jakarta by Etihad Airways.
In September 2016, Indonesia agreed to grant Emirates the right to fly an additional 42 flights a week on the Dubai-Indonesia route.
It also agreed to allow Emirates Airlines to operate flights on the Dubai-Surabaya route through a bilateral code-sharing agreement with an Indonesian airline.
Mutual investment:
The volume of UAE investments in Indonesia reached US$2 billion, and the UAE expressed its desire to increase investments to $9 billion.
The most important UAE companies operating in Indonesia are: DP World, Mubadala Investment Company, Dubai Dry Docks, Emirates Telecommunications Corporation, Dubai Islamic Bank, Dubai National Bank, and Lulu Hypermarket.
Street-mosque:
“In October 2020, Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed ben Zayed al-Nahyane, deputy commander-in-chief of the UAE Armed Forces, ordered the construction of a mosque named after President Joko Widodo of Indonesia and named one of the capital’s most important streets”.
According to the Abou Dabi Information Office, this comes “in appreciation of the Indonesian president’s strong friendship with the UAE and his efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries in many areas“.
