Abu Dhabi, UAE – The United Arab Emirates and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia reaffirmed the strength of their bilateral relations and the depth of their strategic partnership during high-level talks held on January 6, 2026. This took place on the sidelines of the working visit of His Highness Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, to the Ethiopian capital.
Both sides emphasized that UAE-Ethiopia relations are built on solid foundations of mutual respect and cooperation. They also affirmed their commitment to strengthening their comprehensive partnership in areas such as supporting peace and security, preserving sovereignty and territorial integrity, and protecting the economic interests of both countries.
The talks addressed key developments related to security and peace at both the regional and international levels. Both sides affirmed their shared commitment to supporting stability and enhancing prospects for sustainable peace in the region. They also reviewed the outcomes of the high-level humanitarian conference for the people of Sudan, which the UAE hosted in partnership with Ethiopia, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the African Union. This conference, held on the sidelines of the African Union Summit in February 2015, contributed to mobilizing regional and international support to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
Both sides condemned the attacks targeting civilians in Sudan, calling on all parties to the conflict to ensure the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers. They affirmed that the primary responsibility for ending the civil war rests with the warring parties. They also stressed the importance of reaching a humanitarian truce that would lead immediately to a permanent ceasefire. Furthermore, they emphasized the need to guarantee urgent and unhindered humanitarian access and to launch a comprehensive and transparent transition process leading to the formation of an independent civilian government.
At the international level, the UAE welcomed Ethiopia’s preparations to host the 32nd Conference of the Parties (COP32), affirming its support for building upon the outcomes of COP28. The UAE’s position is considered a historic agreement established by 198 countries. The two sides also discussed the 2026 UN Water Conference, which the UAE will co-host with Senegal. They emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation in water technologies and sustainable solutions, which contributes to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6.
