Ambassador Diep, in an interview granted to Nhan Dan (People’s Daily), said the visit takes place at a time when bilateral relations are thriving. Since Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official trip to Abu Dhabi in October 2024, the two countries have elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Partnership and signed the Vietnam-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Political trust has deepened, and both sides now view each other as important partners in Asia and the Middle East.

For the UAE, Vietnam is seen as a fast-growing economy with a young, skilled workforce and a promising consumer market. For Vietnam, the UAE serves not only as a strong partner in energy, finance, and logistics but also as a vital gateway for Vietnamese goods and businesses to expand into the wider Middle East region.

In recent years, UAE businesses and people have shown increasing interest in Vietnam. This trend is reflected in a series of high-level economic and trade activities. In April 2025, the Vietnamese Embassy in the UAE and the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry jointly organised an investment and trade promotion forum, attracting more than 300 UAE enterprises. A month later, a delegation from the Ajman Free Zone Authority visited Ho Chi Minh City to strengthen economic ties and boost bilateral trade. Meanwhile, the Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (JAFZA) participated in the 2025 Vietnam Industrial and Manufacturing Fair (VIMF) and co-hosted a business forum. Most recently, UAE conglomerates such as G42 and Bloom Holding visited Vietnam to explore investment opportunities in various sectors such as technology, smart cities, renewable energy, and health care.

With its open trade policy, the UAE imports nearly all essential goods for domestic use and re-export. This creates enormous opportunities for Vietnamese exports such as agricultural and aquaculture products, processed foods, wood and furniture, textiles, and electronics.

The CEPA, once fully implemented, is expected to significantly reduce trade barriers and tariffs, making it easier for Vietnamese goods to enter not only the UAE but also other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain.

The UAE is also an increasingly important source of investment capital, said the ambassador. Since the establishment of the Ministry of Investment in 2023, the UAE has pursued policies to attract foreign capital and promote outbound investment. Vietnam, with its stable political environment and growing economy, is seen as a priority destination.

Direct air connectivity is also expanding. Emirates recently launched a Dubai–Da Nang route, while Etihad Airways plans to launch direct flights from Abu Dhabi to Hanoi in November 2025. These connections are expected to boost tourism, business travel, and logistics between the two countries.

Through this visit, Ambassador Diep said, Vietnam seeks not only to deepen bilateral ties with the UAE but also to learn from its experience in developing its international financial centre, in line with the country’s Action Plan approved on August 1, 2025.

The diplomat also highlighted the important role and contributions of the Vietnamese community numbering more than 5,000 in the UAE to the development of the host country, as well as to Vietnam and bilateral cooperation.

An increasing number of Vietnamese nationals in the UAE are working in high-skilled sectors such as technology, energy, aviation, and education. The Vietnamese intellectual network in the UAE continues to expand, strengthening knowledge exchange and cooperation between the two countries.

At the same time, more Vietnamese restaurants have been opened in the UAE, earning recognition from both locals and the international community for their quality and authenticity. Many Vietnamese students are pursuing higher education in the UAE, achieving excellent academic results and even receiving scholarships from the UAE government.

According to the Ambassador, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh’s visit sends a clear message that Vietnam attaches great importance to strengthening its comprehensive, practical, and effective cooperation with the UAE. With growing political trust, expanding trade and investment, and closer people-to-people links, the Vietnam-UAE partnership is entering a new stage of substantive and strategic development.

Vietnam and UAE sign defence cooperation document

VOV.VN - Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a Letter of Intent on Defense Cooperation, outlining orientations for substantial defence cooperation between the two countries.