The Netherlands, a major export-driven global economy, shares a strong bilateral relation with the UAE, where trade and investment activities have always held paramount importance. Dutch expertise and know-how have been part of the UAE’s growth since its formation, and the UAE is the Netherland’s second-biggest export destination in the Middle East, with trade between the two countries continuing to soar.
Along with the trade relations, both countries are now pushing to strengthen their diplomatic ties as well. “Government-to-government contacts between the two countries are growing in recent years. For a balanced relationship it is important that governments talk to each other and find areas of joint interest and work on them. It’s a sign of a mature relationship between partners. The state visit of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands earlier this year was a testament to our strong friendship and bilateral bonds,” says Gerard Michels, Ambassador of the Netherlands to the UAE.
Commerce between both the countries is scaling new heights. Bilateral trade touched about €3.7 billion (Dh17.4 billion) in 2011 with exports from the Netherlands to the UAE standing at €2.5 billion and imports reaching €1.2 billion. While the UAE imports machinery, transport and electronic equipment from the Netherlands, it exports oil and non-ferrous metals such as aluminium. And last month, Etihad Rail, the master developer and operator of the UAE’s national railway network, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with HOYER Global Transport BV, a Dutch subsidiary of German-based HOYER GmBH.
Dutch expats in the UAE
Currently an estimated 5,000 Dutch nationals live in the UAE, who, the ambassador says, have moved to the UAE mainly to explore business opportunities. “The major contribution that Dutch nationals make to the country is through the transfer of knowledge in areas of dredging, port management and renewable energy. Dutch nationals also invest to create jobs in the UAE and help it diversify its economy,” Michels says.
The exchange of tourists between the two countries is also growing significantly in recent years. According to figures from the Department of Tourism, Commerce and Marketing, 82,000 visitors from the Netherlands stayed in Dubai hotels and hotel apartments in 2011. With the launch of many direct flights between Amsterdam and Dubai, that number is set to swell further. “Many tourists come to the Netherlands to visit Amsterdam and the famous Van Gogh and the Rijks museums. The Floriade 2012 World Horticultural Expo — staged once in a decade — is a major draw for global tourists this year,” Michels adds.
Bolstering the bond
The Netherlands Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai regularly organise various activities to further the bilateral relations. During major conferences such as Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) and World Future Energy summit, for instance, the embassy organises networking events for Dutch businesses to facilitate trade between the two countries. It also plans to organise a corporate social responsibility event for Dutch companies in 2013 so they can share information and best practices with their UAE counterparts in organising CSR activities in this country.
The embassy runs a Dutch Visitors Programme to raise the public profile of the Netherlands in the UAE, where it invites young Emirati professionals from various walks of life to the Netherlands to learn more about the country.
The ambassador says that both the countries are working at the government level to find solutions to various political and social issues in the Middle East. He says: “We are working to find out how to deal with the revolution in Syria and fight piracy. There’s also cooperation between the police forces of the two countries against organised crime and money laundering. It’s important to provide a framework for these different governmental contacts, so we agreed earlier this year that the ministers of foreign affairs will meet from time to time to review the relationship and push this cooperation to new heights.”
