1973

Afghanistan has always pursued a policy of neutrality and non-alignment in its foreign relations. The diplomatic relation between Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates was established in 1973. Since then, Afghanistan and the UAE have had a cordial relation.

During the Afghan Jihad against the Soviet occupation in the 80s, the government and people of the UAE under the wise leadership of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan provided humanitarian as well as financial help to the Afghan people for their struggle for freedom. During this period thousands of Afghans were given permission to enter the UAE and reside there. H.H. Sheikh Zayed provided land and opportunities for the many arriving Afghans.

After the success of the Afghan Jihad in April 1992, the Afghan Embassy was established for the first time in Abu Dhabi in 1993. Mr. Noorul Hoda started his diplomatic tenure as Chargé D'affaires in the same year.

1997

2002

Following the removal of the Taliban regime, bilateral relationship between the two countries was renewed and both countries designated their envoys, respectively. Mr. Rashiddeen Mohammadi was appointed as Afghan Chargé D'affaires in Abu Dhabi in early 2002.

Former President Hamid Karzai, Head of the then Afghan Transitional Government, along with a high-ranking delegation paid an official visit to the UAE in 2002, seeking assistance for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the war-ravaged Afghanistan as well as to continue the process of strengthening the ongoing relation with the Islamic Ummah, especially the Gulf countries. During this trip, the UAE Government renewed its pledge of $35 million originally pledged in the Tokyo Donors' Conference in early 2002.

Recognizing the importance of relationship with the UAE, the Afghan government nominated its first full-fledged Ambassador to the UAE in October of 2004. H.E. Abdul Farid Zikria presented his credentials as Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary to H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates on the 7th of February 2005.

President Karzai participated in the funeral ceremonies of H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, as one of only two heads of non-Arab countries in November of 2004.

The UAE allocated $74 million for different projects for Afghanistan in 2004 and participated in the Donors Conferences in Berlin and London pledging support for the stability and reconstruction of Afghanistan.

The then President Karzai visited the UAE again from 22-23 May 2006 in response to an invitation from President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Thanks to the President's trip the affinity between the two countries is today stronger than ever before.

President Ghani expressed his happiness on his visit to the UAE in March 2019, praising the country’s endeavors to support the Afghan people via diverse development programs across Afghanistan.

The two sides affirmed their countries’ efforts to develop bilateral relations in various fields of cooperation that serve their common interests and contribute to development and stability in the region. They also stressed the importance of redoubling the international community’s efforts to achieve peace and security and to consolidate the values of tolerance.

4 agreements on education, mining, energy, and sports, and 6 memorandums of understandings in education, mining, energy, sports, culture and agriculture were signed.

The Afghan community residing in the UAE has bilaterally contributed to the economy of this country. The richest Afghan community outside Afghanistan is in the United Arab Emirates, which is home to about 150,000 Afghan citizens. Of this total figure over 500 affluent Afghan businessmen have invested and have a total asset of about $ 4 billion in the UAE. They also control about 60% of the total Afghan trade.

The UAE had been always explicit to support its efforts to bring stability and renovation to Afghanistan.

Assistance Projects

The Red Crescent Society constructed a camp for Afghan refugees in Chaman region of Pakistan covering around 10,000 refugees. , They were provided by all essential commodities like food, health care and temporary hospital attached to the camp fully equipped.

They also facilitated necessary items to the refugees and internally displaced in collaboration with The UNHCR.

Making an air bridge for assisting the refugees and displaced people in 41 trips and covered Quetta in Pakistan, Mashhad in Iran, Kabul and Mazhar Sharif. This bridge resulted in being the vital link to provide food, shelter items, medical facilities, ambulances and vehicles along with delegates to monitor the Project.

Shipment of about 2000 tons of food item was dispatched by sea to Pakistan for refugees and to Afghanistan by land.

The estimated cost of this project was 43,464.230 AED equivalent to $ 11,908.821.

Relief Projects

The UAE facilitated 9 mosques and 523 wells. They renovated The Afghan Red crescent Society's hospital and provided with better equipments.

The orphanage which operates under The Afghan R.C.S was also renovated and reconstructed.

Seasonal projects were also carried out like –zakat –al-fitre, distribution of clothes and consumption material like meat etc.

Total estimated cost was AED 8,059.930 equivalent to $ 2,208.200.

Future Projects

The UAE considered assistance for the year 2005. Hence, marketing some projects was carried out in the UAE itself that were focused on the co-operation of the wealthy for the success of the future projects.

The UAE would abide by the agenda to continue relief assistance by the air bridge and simultaneously continue their assistance to needy families through their offices in Kabul.

Estimated cost would be AED 1.000.000 equivalent to $ 273.972.6.

Donations

During the 9th gathering of Foreign ministers of the Islamic countries, the UAE announced the donation $3 million to the Afghanistan fund.

Humanitarian Assistance

The UAE government has offered humanitarian assistance of $ 21,379.244 for different fields and categories of assistance to the afghan nation.