UAE seeks to strengthen East-West links through Brics, says senior official

The UAE is leveraging its membership in Brics to fortify economic and cultural ties between Eastern and Western nations, according to Omran Sharaf, the UAE's Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Science and Technology Affairs and Brics Sherpa. Sharaf emphasized that the UAE's strategic position as a regional and global hub necessitates collaboration with both the East and West, particularly in trade, economic, and people-to-people relationships.

The UAE's involvement in Brics aims to enhance connectivity among member states and provide the Global South with improved access to other parts of the world. Sharaf highlighted that the bloc's expansion to include the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia, and Ethiopia now represents 49.5% of the world's population and 40% of global GDP at purchasing power parity.

While acknowledging differences in national interests among Brics members, Sharaf noted that such disparities are inherent to a multipolar world and reflect each country's unique historical, demographic, geographic, and geopolitical contexts. The UAE delegation, led by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, is set to attend the Brics summit in New Delhi, alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit India, the first such visit in seven years, which Sharaf deemed significant for the UAE's growing ties with India.

The UAE sees India as a crucial partner in trade, economy, and culture, with bilateral trade reaching $101.25 billion in the 2025-26 fiscal year, and Indian exports to the UAE surpassing $37.35 billion. The UAE is also a significant trading partner for India, ranking third overall and second in terms of export destinations. Sharaf highlighted the importance of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (Imec) as a crucial initiative, stating that the UAE is prioritizing infrastructure projects in response to recent regional conflicts, such as the recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz.