History

HISTORY

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah, and Ras Al Khaimah. Malaysia enjoys warm and long-standing ties with the UAE, marked by the establishment of the Embassy of Malaysia in Abu Dhabi in 1983 and the Consulate General of Malaysia in Dubai in 1994. Initially managed by MATRADE, the Consulate General’s office was officially taken over by Wisma Putra on 8 January 2008.

The Consulate General of Malaysia in Dubai has significantly broadened and deepened its functions and consular engagements across Dubai and the Northern Emirates; namely Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm Al Quwain. The Mission continues to provide consular services to the Malaysian community, the local population, and the wider expatriate community residing in these Emirates.

Under the Sistem Pentadbiran Kerajaan Malaysia (SPKM), the Consulate General of Malaysia in Dubai is responsible for overseeing the operations of five Malaysian government agencies based in Dubai: the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), which promotes Malaysian exports and trade; the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), which facilitates and attracts investment from and into Malaysia; the Agriculture Office, which promotes agricultural trade and technical collaboration; Education Malaysia, which fosters educational cooperation; and Tourism Malaysia, which promotes Malaysia as a leading tourist destination. Together, under the coordination of the Consulate General, these agencies work collectively to promote Malaysia’s national interests in the UAE and the broader Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, enhancing collaboration and strengthening bilateral and regional partnerships across key sectors.

People-to-people ties between Malaysia and the UAE have grown steadily, supported by frequent high-level visits and expanding bilateral cooperation. This relationship is further strengthened by robust air connectivity, with over 40 direct flights weekly between the two countries operated by airlines such as Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Air Arabia, and Batik Air. These connections continue to facilitate tourism, business, education, and cultural exchange across both nations. Currently, approximately 6,800 Malaysians live and work in the UAE, with around 3,500 residing in Dubai and the remainder spread across the other six Emirates.

Updated: 30 December 2024