Message from H.E. Naipote Tako Katonitabua
Marhaba, Bula Vinaka, Namaste and Welcome to the website of the Fiji Embassy in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Fiji and UAE established diplomatic relations in 17 March 2010. Fiji opened its Embassy in Abu Dhabi for UAE in 02 September 2012 which was a historical event for being the first from the Pacific to open its embassy in the Middle East region.
The Fiji Embassy role is to extend Fiji’s Foreign Policy and promote development co-operation with Middle East and the Gulf countries under its accreditation namely the United Arab Emirates, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Kuwait, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Qatar, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Fiji’s Permanent Representatives to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The Embassy is Fiji’s first in the region which has a population of over 350 million and underscores not only the strategic importance of the region but also our commitment to expand our engagement with the rest of the world, in particular the Middle Eastern and Gulf region. With the closure of the Fiji Embassy in Ethiopia in early 2019, Cabinet endorsed the transfer of responsibilities for Africa, the African Union and UN organizations (UNEP & UN Habitat) over to FEAD.
In view of the current COVID 19 Travel Restrictions within the region, Fiji is currently accredited only to UAE, Kuwait and Qatar.
The UAE is a strategic hub and main gateway to the Middle East and North Africa region. UAE is also a model of modern development, information and cutting the edge technology, science, space exploration and good governance and is a financial and communication hub due to its location, excellent trade, transport, tourism, industry and finance infrastructure among others. Fiji’s presence in the region reflects its interests to similarly position Fiji as the hub of economic activity and regional engagement in the Pacific in line with the forward-looking vision of ‘Transforming Fiji’. The overall objectives of the Embassy are aligned to Fiji’s National Development Plan (NDP) and global commitments such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement particularly in the areas of Renewable Energy, Climate Change and Social Development.
These objectives percolate into the Embassy’s mandate in enhancing trade and commerce particularly ‘Fijian Made’ products; promote investments from the region to enhance Fiji’s economy while providing investors with investment incentives; promoting Fiji through public and cultural diplomacy as well as an attractive tourist destination; facilitate scholarships and employment opportunities for Fijians in the region by promoting greater participation of Fijians in the large foreign workforce; promote defence cooperation and greater involvement of the countries of the region in the development initiatives of the Pacific Small Islands Developing States (PSIDS). Our presence in the region helps enhance Fiji’s quest for global leadership and to further the vision of ‘building a better Fiji’ through the work of the Mission in Middle East and Africa.
We hope that information available in the website will be of great assistance in knowing Fiji better and certainly assist our Fijian diaspora requiring consular services in the Middle East region.
We look forward to welcoming you at the Embassy and of course to welcoming you in your next visit to Fiji.
Shukran, Vinaka vakalevu, Dhanyavaad and thank you for paying us a visit.