Prime Minister Mark Carney is travelling to Abu Dhabi today, becoming the first Canadian prime minister in more than four decades to make an official visit to the United Arab Emirates — a trip shaped by both economic ambitions and growing geopolitical tensions.
The visit comes at a critical moment as Ottawa works to attract major investment from global sovereign wealth funds and private-sector partners to help diversify Canada’s economy amid the ongoing U.S. trade war. The UAE, with its deep pockets and increasingly global financial reach, has become a key target for Canadian outreach.
Carney is set to meet senior government officials and business leaders to discuss investment opportunities and expand cooperation on innovation and development projects. The UAE has become an important player in Canada’s diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, particularly in peace-brokering attempts between Israelis and Palestinians and in several development initiatives.
However, the visit is taking place under the shadow of troubling allegations that the UAE has been supplying weapons to a powerful paramilitary force accused of driving ethnic violence in Sudan’s brutal civil war. While the Emirati government has forcefully denied the claims, the reports have raised international alarm and added new complexity to Canada’s diplomatic engagement.
Janice Stein, founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, says the trip offers Canada a chance to secure much-needed Emirati investment while also tapping into the UAE’s expanding expertise in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies.
Carney is not holding a press conference during his time in Abu Dhabi, and local authorities are restricting media access to bilateral meetings — a departure from the transparency typically seen during prime ministerial visits to other countries.
The visit underscores Canada’s delicate balancing act: seeking strategic economic partnerships while navigating a rapidly shifting global landscape and mounting human rights concerns.