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 Somalia |  United Arab Emirates |
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Somalia–United Arab Emirates relations arebilateral relations betweenSomalia and theUnited Arab Emirates (UAE). Both nations areArab League members and engage in close development cooperation. Somalia also has an embassy inAbu Dhabi, and the UAE maintains an embassy inMogadishu.
Relations between the territories of present-day Somalia and the United Arab Emirates stretch back to antiquity. The 1st century CEPeriplus of the Erythraean Sea, among other documents, reports early commercial exchanges between traders inhabiting city-states on the northern Somalia littoral withHimyarite andSabaean merchants, who controlled much of theArabian Peninsula.[1] During the Middle Ages and early modern period, the variousSomali Sultanates also maintained close relations with other kingdoms across theRed Sea.
After the start of thecivil war in Somalia in 1991, the UAE maintained diplomatic relations with the SomaliTransitional National Government and its successor theTransitional Federal Government, and supported their government initiatives.[2] The UAE has also officially supported thePuntland Maritime Police Force since the military body's formation in 2010.[3]
The subsequent establishment of theFederal Government of Somalia in August 2012 was welcomed by the Emirati authorities, who re-affirmed the UAE's continued support for Somalia's government, its territorial integrity and sovereignty.[4]
In May 2019, a U.S. senator blamed the UAE for fostering conflict in Somalia, in particularly by nurturing animosity between Somalia's regional states (such asJubaland,Puntland) and the central government, particularly by signing separate economic deals, such as coastal ports.[5]DP World operates thePort of Berbera inSomaliland.[6] The UAE has announced intentions to open a military base in Somaliland.[6]
In March 2014, Prime Minister of SomaliaAbdiweli Sheikh Ahmed began an official three-day visit to the United Arab Emirates to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two nations. During talks with UAE deputy prime minister and minister of presidential affairs SheikhMansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Emirati authorities emphasized their commitment to the ongoing post-conflict reconstruction process in Somalia. They also pledged to assist in capacity building and the rehabilitation of government institutions.[7]
In January 2015, new prime minister of SomaliaOmar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke met with the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Somalia Mohammed Ahmed Othman Al Hammadi at his Mogadishu office. The officials touched on various matters of bilateral interest, including military operations, governmental re-institutionalization, maritime security, and the local reconstruction process. Sharmarke noted the longstanding and close relationship between the territories of Somalia and the UAE. Ambassador Al Hammadi in turn pledged that the Emirati authorities would support the ongoing developmental activities in Somalia.[8]
In March 2015, Foreign Affairs Minister of SomaliaAbdisalam Omer met with th Foreign Affairs Minister of the United Arab EmiratesAbdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan inAbu Dhabi. The two leaders touched on various bilateral matters, including strengthening collaboration and cooperation in the security sector, among other areas. They also evaluated ongoing mutual projects and discussed the political situation in Somalia. Omer in turn commended the Emirati government for its various development initiatives in Somalia, and applauded the UAE's commitment to the reconstruction process therein.[9]
The United Arab Emirates trained hundreds of Somali troops since 2014.[10] The UAE had been paying the salaries of several hundred Somali soldiers, and trained an anti-piracy force inPuntland state ofSomalia. The training mission ended after Somali police seized money in three unmarked bags on a Royal Jet plane at theAden Adde International Airport inMogadishu, according to the Somali interior ministry.[11]
The Somali government announced on Wednesday April 11, 2018, that it will take over paying and training the soldiers in the programme, Defence Minister Mohamed Mursal Abdirahman told Somalia's state news agency Sonna.[12]
"Somalia will fully take over [its troops] trained by the UAE... Those forces will be added to the various battalions of the Somalia National Army," Abdirahman said, adding the soldiers would be integrated into other units on Thursday.[13]
In late March 2013, Foreign Minister of SomaliaFowziya Yusuf Haji Adan and her Emirati counterpart SheikhAbdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan signed a memorandum of understanding on bilateral cooperation. The agreement re-establishes formal diplomatic ties between Somalia and the UAE, and also focuses on the political, security, economic, investment and development sectors. Additionally, the Emirati government announced that it would re-open its embassy in Mogadishu.[14]
In November 2014, Somalia and the United Arab Emirates signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance military cooperation.[15]
In April 2025, Somalia signed a $306.5 million debt relief agreement with theAbu Dhabi-basedArab Monetary Fund (AMF), marking a significant step in its ongoing economic reform programme. The deal, signed inKuwait, restructures Somalia’s debt to the AMF and follows the 2024 cancellation of 99% of Somalia’s debt by theParis Club. Somalia’s finance minister described the agreement as fundamental to re-engaging with international financial institutions. The AMF, which supports economic development amongArab states, highlighted the deal as part of broader efforts to stabilizeSomalia’s post-conflict economy.[16]
The Somali Federal Government maintains an embassy in Abu Dhabi. Thediplomatic mission is led by Ambassador AbdulKadir Sheikhey Al-Hatimi.[17]
The United Arab Emirates' embassy inMogadishu is headed by Ambassador Mohammed Ahmed Othman Al Hammadi.[8]
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