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 United Arab Emirates |  Serbia |
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Serbia and theUnited Arab Emirates maintain diplomatic relations established betweenSFR Yugoslavia and United Arab Emirates in 1971. From 1971 to 2006, United Arab Emirates maintained relations with the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) (laterSerbia and Montenegro), of which Serbia is consideredshared (SFRY) or sole (FRY) legalsuccessor.[1]
Serbia and the United Arab Emirates have developed strong economic ties in the last decade, with significant investments flowing from the UAE into Serbia, particularly in high-profile projects like theBelgrade Waterfront andAir Serbia. The Belgrade Waterfront is a flagship $3.5 billion mixed-use development urban development project in Belgrade: it covers 177 hectares along the Sava River, aiming to transform a neglected area into a modern urban hub with 10 thousand residential units, luxury hotels (such asSaint Regis), the largest shopping mall in Southeast Europe, and the 180-meterBelgrade Tower, the tallest building in the region.[2]
Air Serbia, nationalflag carrier and largestairline of Serbia was another key pillar of Serbia-UAE economic relations, with the UAE'sEtihad Airways playing a pivotal role in its restructuring. In 2013, Etihad acquired a 49% stake inJat Airways, which was rebranded as Air Serbia. The Serbian government retained 51% and majority control of the supervisory board. Etihad also secured management rights for five years, aiming to turn around the struggling carrier.[3][4] Partnership ended in 2023.
Emirati telecommunication companyEtisalat and is a major player on Serbian market, having acquiredYettel in 2024, a mobile and fixed telephony operator as well as internet and cable television/IPTV provider.[5]
