Indonesia-UAE Boost Energy, Investment Cooperation

KBRN, Jakarta: Trade between Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has surpassed USD 5 billion as of October 2025, following a significant increase since 2021 driven by strengthened cooperation in the energy and investment sectors.

Speaking after a private meeting with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, afternoon, UAE Ambassador to Indonesia Abdulla Salem Al Dhaheri highlighted the growth in trade since 2021.

“If we look at the trade relationship between the UAE and Indonesia, the figure stood at around USD 1.9 billion in 2021. As of today, it has increased to slightly over USD 5 billion,” Al Dhaheri said, as quoted by antaranews.com.

He emphasized that bilateral ties have made notable progress, particularly in the energy and investment sectors.

One major success story is Mubadala Energy, a UAE-based energy company that is currently operating in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Aceh Province. The company recently discovered a large-scale natural gas reserve, the biggest gas find in Indonesia in the last two decades.

“This is a success story for Mubadala Energy,” Al Dhaheri added.

The ambassador also expressed the UAE’s commitment to expanding partnership opportunities in various sectors that bring added value to Indonesia.

“Beyond economic cooperation, we are committed to driving investments that can create new jobs and support sustainable growth in Indonesia. We will continue to seek areas of cooperation that generate added value and employment,” he continued.

Earlier in the day, President Prabowo held a 2.5-hour closed-door dialogue with Ambassador Al Dhaheri and executives from EDGE Group, a UAE company specializing in technology and defense.

Among the attendees were Faisal Al Bannai, Secretary General of the Advanced Technology Research Council and Chairman of EDGE Group, along with Omar Al Zaabi, President of Trade Support and Missions at EDGE Group. ***