Irish Embassy to open in Abu Dhabi

Ireland is to open an Embassy in the United Arab Emirates this year, it was revealed today.

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin said the new base would help promote trade, investment and tourism links with the UAE and other Gulf countries.

The mission, Ireland’s second in the region after Saudi Arabia, will be based in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi.

“There is a strong Irish community in the United Arab Emirates and there are already strong business links between our two countries,” Mr Martin said.

“The UAE is a significant trading partner for Ireland, accounting for over 500 million euro in merchandise and service exports in 2007.”

Mr Martin said the Embassy would strengthen Ireland’s presence in the region.

“At present, we have one Embassy in the region, in Saudi Arabia, which covers six States, he said.

“By opening a new resident Embassy in Abu Dhabi, we will be able to give more attention to the countries in the Gulf region, each of which is an important partner.”

Meanwhile, President Mary McAleese, who is on a five-day official visit to the Gulf region, opened the new Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI-MUB) campus.

She was joined by Bahrain’s Prime Minister, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa.

Ms McAleese left for the region on Saturday accompanied by Education and Science Minister Batt O’Keeffe.

The President said the opening marked an important milestone in the 30-year relationship between Ireland’s distinguished Royal College of Surgeons and the Government of Bahrain.

“RCSI has an outstanding global reputation which has created demand for its services far from Ireland’s shores,” Ms McAleese said.

“Not only has it moulded great medical graduates, it has also created a body of ambassadors both for the Royal College and for Ireland, putting us on the map as a global leader in the delivery of healthcare education.”

The role of RCSI Medical University of Bahrain is to provide healthcare education and training to world class standards for students from Bahrain, the Gulf region and beyond.

Ms McAleese is due to visit the UAE tomorrow and join Mr Martin, following his brief Middle East tour of Syria and Lebanon.