For centuries, individuals have needed to move and travel around the world, and the need has arisen for other individuals to provide services, care and protection in the places between which they move. This was the beginning of consular work, which over time became an important and integral part of diplomatic work.

With the emergence and growth of countries and the rapid progress the world has witnessed over the past decades, a new and complex consular reality has settled in, one which is not limited to traditional consular activities such as issuing visas, providing services to citizens, promoting tourism and tackling challenges citizens face in other countries, but rather extends to strengthening bilateral relations and encouraging bilateral investment and trade, among others.

The United Arab Emirates appears as a prominent example in the practice of consular work within the context of UAE foreign policy. Consular diplomacy has become a reflection of Emirati values and is keen to strengthen bilateral relations and provide services to Emirati citizens and to individuals by building strategic partnerships and keeping abreast of local contexts, best practices and trends in consular affairs.

Within this framework, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has developed a coherent program of performance, alignment of resources with service delivery needs, use of correct data to guide decisions, as well as training, proactiveness and the development of necessary operational policies.

Consular diplomacy is increasingly gaining importance in the context of globalization and the economy, as it is an element of diplomatic power which effectiveness has become shared by individuals as well as countries. Digitization and proactiveness of services provided to individuals, their quality and ensuring the flow of business have become an added value that reflects positively on diplomatic relations and consolidate the concept of consular diplomacy.

As consular interactions often occur with groups, companies, or individuals, rather than hosting national governments, the UAE, under the directives of its wise leadership, has taken great leaps in providing consular services to these groups, and particularly to Emirati citizens. It has done so through the digital transformation of all services provided inside and outside the country through the official website and smart application of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and in cooperation with strategic partners from the competent authorities, such as document attestation services, of travel documents and return documents issuance to citizens abroad.

Hosting Expo 2020 was perhaps a unique example of the consular diplomacy pursued by the UAE, regardless of the changes and developments on the global scene, as it shored up efforts to gather the world under one dome, to become a prominent landmark and a link between nations.