Five days after Sudanese President Bashir ousted 11 April, high-level joint delegation from United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia 16 April met Sudanese Transitional Military Council (TMC) in Sudan, TMC praised Sudan’s “distinguished ties” with both countries; UAE and Saudi Arabia 21 April said they would give Sudan aid worth $3bn ($500mn in central bank and $2.5bn worth of food, medicine and fuel). In response to launch of military offensive led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar to take Libyan capital Tripoli, UAE 4 April co-signed statement with France, Italy, UK and U.S. calling for de-escalation around Tripoli.

During Russian FM Lavrov’s visit as part of 4-7 March Gulf tour, United Arab Emirates (UAE) govt and Lavrov discussed political transition in Syria. Govt end Feb announced it would deploy 5G mobile phone network in partnership with Chinese tech giant Huawei, despite U.S. lobbying against move.

FM Gargash 3 Feb called for implementation of Stockholm Agreement in Yemen and to make 2019 “the year of peace in Yemen”. In joint statement on Yemen 13 Feb, “Quad” comprising UAE, Saudi Arabia, U.S. and UK denounced Iranian support for Huthis and blamed latter for lack of progress in implementation of Stockholm Agreement. Govt and UAE 26 Feb both pledged additional $500mn to UN 2019 humanitarian plan for Yemen. Govt hosted joint military exercise with Oman 3-14 Feb.

In letter to UN Security Council 17 Jan, govt restated commitment to implementation of Stockholm Agreement in Yemen, while condemning Huthi ceasefire violations. Govt has repeatedly warned privately that Saudi-led coalition reserves right to return to hostilities if no progress made on Huthi redeployment from Hodeida. Country’s global port operator DP World 3 Jan said first convoy of trucks had travelled along newly reopened 2,500km corridor from Jebel Ali port to Syria. Govt 20 Jan hosted inaugural UAE-Syria private sector forum.

Govt 27 Dec reopened embassy in Syrian capital Damascus.

Court 21 Nov sentenced to life in prison British academic Matthew Hedges, arrested in May for spying. After UK FM Hunt 22 Nov warned of “serious diplomatic consequences” if govt did not release Hedges, govt 25 Nov pardoned him “in consideration of the historical relationship between the UAE and the UK”. Govt opposed UK’s draft UN Security Council resolution on Yemen late Nov. Govt 20 Nov announced joint pledge with Saudi Arabia of $500mn in aid to Yemen.

Following killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul 2 Oct, UAE 14 Oct issued statement affirming solidarity with Saudi Arabia against “attempts to undermine its regional stature and fundamental role in establishing regional peace and security”. Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait 6 Oct signed agreement providing $10bn to Bahrain to support fiscal program aimed at eliminating budget deficit by 2022.

After UAE Minister for International Cooperation Reem al-Hashimy met Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa 10 Aug, Ethiopian govt said that UAE was exploring investment opportunities there, including building oil pipeline from Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to Eritrean port city of Assab.

Huthi forces in Yemen 26 July claimed to have launched drone attack on Abu Dhabi airport, which UAE denied. Leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan 24 July in Abu Dhabi and thanked UAE for role in fostering peace between two countries after twenty-year frozen conflict; Prince Mohammed awarded both leaders highest civilian honour for ending war (see also Ethiopia and Eritrea).

Relations between govt and federal govt of Somalia deteriorated following latter’s objections in recent months to increased UAE cooperation with Somaliland and Puntland regions over which federal govt claims sovereignty. Somali federal govt 8 April seized almost $10mn in cash from Emirati plane at Mogadishu airport; UAE denounced action, saying money was to pay wages of Somali soldiers it had been training. Somalia 11 April said it would take over military training program from UAE. Emirati govt 15 April said it would stop training program and 16 April closed UAE-run hospital in Mogadishu (see Somalia).