Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Dubai

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federal state comprising seven emirates, with Abu Dhabi and Dubai serving as its two primary pillars. The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Dubai oversees six of these emirates, including Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah, with Dubai as its central hub.

Strategically located at the crossroads of Asia, Europe, and Africa, Dubai has evolved into a key global hub for land, sea, and air transport. Since the 1800s, Dubai’s visionary leaders have invested in trade, foreseeing its potential as a gateway to the world. Today, Dubai stands as the financial, tourism, aviation, real estate, and logistics hub of the Middle East and Africa. The city continues to capture global attention through initiatives like hosting Expo 2020 Dubai in 2021 and securing COP28 in 2023, alongside its policies for industrial diversification, renewable energy, and fostering innovation and future industries.

The strength of Dubai lies in its unique ability to preserve the traditional values of its 15% native Arab population while embracing the global-first, biggest, and best philosophy. Through proactive supply creation, tax incentives, deregulation, and open investment policies, Dubai has become a thriving cosmopolitan city where over 200 nationalities compete freely. Despite the instability in the surrounding region, Dubai has maintained social stability and continues to progress. The fact that Dubai, a city with minimal natural resources like oil, has managed to create a "miracle in the desert" signifies a strong potential for cooperation with Korea across various sectors.

Currently, over 140 Korean companies operate in Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, and other northern emirates. These companies are active in diverse fields such as manufacturing, energy, construction, logistics, food, ICT, education, healthcare, aviation, finance and insurance, trade, hospitality, MICE, and mining. Given Dubai's diversity and dynamism, we expect further expansion into new sectors.

In the early 2000s, the Korean community in Dubai numbered around 250, with approximately 4,500 annual visitors. As of 2024, the number of Korean residents in Dubai has surged to over 4,000, with an additional 1,000 in the northern emirates. Moreover, the number of Korean visitors has skyrocketed to 700,000 annually. The special strategic partnership between Korea and the UAE, the only such relationship in the Middle East, along with the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed during the state visit of the UAE President to Korea in May 2024, will serve as catalysts for further strengthening bilateral relations and expanding both human and material exchanges.

Our Consulate General will continue to support the safety of our citizens, assist the expansion of Korean businesses, and promote mutual understanding and exchange through public diplomacy. We are committed to providing reliable and satisfying consular services, ensuring that Korea continues to reach out to the world from our base in Dubai.

Thank you for your trust and support.

Lee, Beomchan 

Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Dubai