Middle East
Middle East
Singapore's diplomatic relationships and recent highlights with Middle East.
Overview
Engagement of the region
Singapore engages the Middle East through high-level exchanges, economic cooperation, and people-to-people linkages. We share best practices in a variety of sectors, including healthcare, governance, culture and the environment.
Economic links and cooperation
Singapore companies are active across a broad spectrum of sectors, including infrastructure, oil and gas, environmental technologies, logistics, tourism and retail. Trade between Singapore and the Middle East has grown substantially in recent years, reaching S$57.5 billion in 2019.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (GSFTA), which was signed on 15 December 2008 and which entered into force on 1 September 2013, marked an important milestone. Singapore was the first country outside of the Middle East to conclude an FTA with the GCC.
Elsewhere in the region, tapping Israel's strength in the high-tech sector, the Singapore Israel Industrial Research & Development Foundation has been facilitating and supporting joint industrial R&D projects between companies from both countries.
Technical cooperation
Singapore shares our developmental experience with Middle East countries through the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) and the work of Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE). Various ministries, statutory boards and private organisations also cooperate with their Middle East counterparts on a wide range of issues. These initiatives include but are not limited to:
The Strategic Leadership Programme (SLP) held since 2010, most recently in January 2018, by Civil Service College (CSC) for Kuwait’s public sector leaders;
The Regional Institute of Infrastructure Development that was established at the Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat in 2012 as part of Singapore’s commitment to offer capacity building courses to Oman in infrastructure development, civil aviation, economic development, public administration, information and communication technology;
Singapore’s Enhanced Technical Assistance Package (ETAP) to support the technical capacity-building efforts of the Palestinian Authority (PA) was launched in 2013, and doubled from S$5 million to S$10 million in 2016. Hundreds of PA officials have benefited from the ETAP;
Eight customised protocol training programmes for Bahraini protocol officers; and
Hosting 88 study visits by United Arab Emirates officials since 2014 (as of December 2019).
Academic engagement and cooperation
Singapore's schools and tertiary institutions actively engage the Middle East, with an increasing variety of programmes and opportunities available for students to gain a better appreciation and understanding of the region. Examples include but are not limited to:
University study trips to the Middle East, organised by the National University of Singapore under the Study Trips for Engagement and Enrichment (STEER) programme, and Singapore Management University’s Business Study Mission;
The NUS Overseas College (NOC) in Israel initiative, which is a successful internship programme that provides postgraduates and undergraduates the opportunity to experience Israel’s unique entrepreneurship culture and dynamic environment of business start-ups;
The Middle East Institute, which was set up in NUS in 2007 in recognition of the region’s significant role in the world and to promote a deeper understanding of the Middle East in Singapore;
The Raffles Institution Middle East Programme (at the secondary school level) which helps to generate greater awareness of the region; and
The S R Nathan Annual Distinguished Lectures, which invites leading decision-makers and thinkers to Singapore to contribute to analyses on the Middle East. Most recently, Professor Olivier Roy of the Schuman Centre of Advanced Studies at the European University Institute delivered the 5th S R Nathan Distinguished Lecture in November 2018 titled “Conflicts in the Middle East: Where is Religion?”.
Multilateral engagement
Asia-Middle East Dialogue (AMED) - Singapore mooted the idea of establishing an Asia-Middle East Dialogue (AMED) in 2004 as part of our efforts to foster political, economic and cultural engagement between Asia and the Middle East. Singapore hosted the inaugural AMED Ministerial Meeting in 2005, which was attended by leaders from Asia and Middle East. Since then, AMED has produced a number of initiatives including the Regional Training Centres in Jordan and Qatar, which has trained over 900 officials from 42 AMED member countries and 8 African countries.
Recent highlights
2020
Minister (Communications and Information) S Iswaran visited Israel from 17 to 20 January 2020 to visit several technology companies, venture capitalists and government agencies from the Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, Innovation and ICM domains.
UAE Minister of State for Higher Education and Advanced Skills Dr Ahmad Abdulla Humaid Abdulla Belhoul Al Falasi visited Singapore from 15 to 16 January to deliver a keynote speech at the MEI Annual Conference 2020.
Minister (Environment and Water Resources) and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli visited Jeddah from 18 to 21 January 2020 to attend the Annual Hajj Ministerial Meeting.
Minister (National Development) and Second Minister (Finance) Lawrence Wong visited Riyadh from 22 to 23 February 2020 to attend the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting.
2019
Minister (Environment and Water Resources) and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli visited Abu Dhabi from 12 to 16 January 2019 for the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
Senior Minister of State (Trade and Industry) Dr Koh Poh Koon visited Dubai from 19 to 20 February 2019 to attend Gulfood 2019.
Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Home Affairs) (National Development) Ms Sun Xueling led a Singapore delegation to attend the Aqaba Process – Tech Meeting in California from 25 to 26 February 2019. The Aqaba Process was launched by His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan as a platform to enhance global coordination in countering terrorism and violent extremism.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, made an official visit to Singapore on 28 February 2019.
His Excellency Dr Fahad Al Mubarak, Secretary-General of the Saudi G20 Secretariat and Minister of State, visited Singapore from 6 to 9 March 2019 to attend the G20 Roundtable with Southeast Asian Thought Leaders.
Mr Saeb Eigner, Chairman of Dubai Financial Services Authority, made a working visit to Singapore from 7 to 9 March 2019.
His Excellency Dr Ahmad Hassan Al Hamadi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, made a working visit to Singapore on 8 March 2019.
Minister (Environment and Water Resources) and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli visited Egypt and Jordan from 10 to 13 March.
His Excellency Dr Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Salem Al Futaisi, Omani Minister for Transport and Communications, visited Singapore from 12 to 16 March 2019 to attend the 1st World Congress on Maritime Heritage.
Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Dr Mohamed Abdel Aty visited Singapore under MEWR’s Distinguished Visitors’ Programme in March.
Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Foreign Affairs) (Trade and Industry) Dr Tan Wu Meng visited Jordan from 5 to 7 April 2019 to attend the World Economic Forum on Middle East and North Africa.
Members of Parliament Professor Fatimah Abdul Lateef, Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, and Mr Gan Thiam Poh visited Qatar to attend the 140th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Doha from 6 to 10 April 2019.
Minister (Environment and Water Resources) and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli made a working visit to Riyadh from 14 to 16 April 2019.
His Majesty King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan made his third State Visit to Singapore from 19 to 21 June 2019 and delivered the keynote address at the inaugural International Conference on Cohesive Societies.
Iranian Minister of Information and Communications Technology Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi visited Singapore from 24 to 27 June 2019 to attend the Asia Pacific Information and Communications Technology Ministerial Meeting.
Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam visited Riyadh and Jeddah on 14 and 15 July 2020 at the invitation of the Saudi G20 Secretariat.
Iranian Minister of Justice Seyed Ali Reza Avaei visited Singapore from 6 to 9 August 2019 to attend the Singapore Convention on Mediation Signing Ceremony and Conference.
Qatari Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Dr Issa Bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi visited Singapore from 6 to 7 August 2019 to co-chair the inaugural Qatar Ministry of Justice-Ministry of Law Joint Committee meeting and sign the Singapore Convention on Mediation.
Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani visited Singapore from 27 to 28 August 2019 to co-chair the Second Implementation Monitoring Mechanism (IMM) meeting.
Bahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for International Affairs Shaikh Dr Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa visited Singapore in August 2019 under the MFA Distinguished Visitors Programme.
Minister (Home Affairs) (Law) K Shanmugam made a working visit to Oman from 13 to 14 October 2019.
Minister (Home Affairs) (Law) K Shanmugam made a working visit to Doha, Qatar from 14 to 16 October 2019 to attend the Global Security Forum.
President Halimah Yacob made a State Visit to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia from 4 to 8 November 2019.
Senior Minister of State (Communications and InformationI) (Culture, Community and Youth) Sim Ann visited Riyadh from 11 to 15 November 2019 to attend the MiSK Global Forum.
Senior Minister of State (Defence) (Foreign Affairs) Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman made a working visit to Abu Dhabi from 5 to 7 November 2019 to attend the 19th Indian Ocean Rim Council of Ministers Meeting.
Senior Minister of State (Defence) (Foreign Affairs) Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman visited Manama in November 2019 to attend the Manama Dialogue.
2018
Dr Ali Taiebnia, Senior Advisor to the Iran President, visited Singapore from 30 January to 4 February as the 62nd Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellow. Dr Taiebnia, who served as Iran’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance from 2013 to 2017, is the first Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellow from Iran.
Egyptian Minister of Industry, Trade and Small Industries Tarek Kabil visited Singapore from 8 to 10 February at the invitation of Senior Minister of State (Trade and Industry) Dr Koh Poh Koon.
Senior Minister of State (SMS) (Defence) (Foreign Affairs) Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman visited the State of Kuwait from 12 to 14 February. He attended the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and the Ministerial Conference of the Kuwait International Conference for the Reconstruction of Iraq. SMS Maliki also called on Kuwait First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence His Excellency Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah.
Minister (Foreign Affairs) Dr Vivian Balakrishnan made a Working Visit to the United Arab Emirates on 21 February to address a closed-door session at the 12th Forum of UAE Ambassadors and Heads of Missions Abroad, at the invitation of UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz Bin Saud Bin Naif visited Singapore from 15 to 17 March, calling on President Halimah Yacob, and meeting Deputy Prime Minister DPM and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean, Minister (Home Affairs) (Law) K Shanmugam, and Minister (Communications and Information), Minister-In-Charge Of Cyber Security, and Minister-In-Charge Of Muslim Affairs Dr Yaacob Ibrahim.
Minister (Foreign Affairs) Dr Vivian Balakrishnan made his introductory visit to Qatar from 15 to 16 April. Minister Balakrishnan called on Prime Minister and Minister of Interior His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani, DPM and Minister of State for Defence Affairs His Excellency Dr Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, and co-chaired the inaugural Implementation Monitoring Mechanism (IMM) meeting with DPM and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Bin Jassim Al Thani. At His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed’s invitation, Minister Balakrishnan attended the opening ceremony of the Qatar National Library and met Qatar Emir His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the opening ceremony.
His Eminence Dr Ahmed Al Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, visited Singapore from 3 to 5 May at the invitation of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), visited Singapore from 10 to 11 May, calling on President Halimah Yacob, and meeting Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean, Minister (Home Affairs) (Law) K Shanmugam, Minister (Foreign Affairs) Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, and Minister (Education) Ong Ye Kung.
UAE Minister of State for Defence Affairs His Excellency Mohammed Bin Ahmed Al Bawardi visited Singapore from 31 May to 2 June to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue.
Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs His Excellency Dr Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Attiyah visited Singapore from 2 to 3 June to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue.
UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment His Excellency Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi visited Singapore from 8 to 11 July for the CleanEnviro Summit Singapore, Singapore International Water Week and the World Cities Summit.
Kuwaiti Environment Public Authority Chairman and Director-General His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Ahmed Al Humoud Al Sabah visited Singapore from 7 to 12 July for the Urban Sustainability Week.
Saudi Arabia Shura Council Chairman His Excellency Dr Abdullah Mohammed Ibrahim Al Sheikh visited Singapore from 30 to 31 July.
UAE Minister of State for Future Food Security Her Excellency Mariam Al Mehairi made a study visit to Singapore on 6 August and met with Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Home Affairs) (National Development) Sun Xueling.
Central Bank of Kuwait Governor His Excellency Dr Mohammad Al Hashel made a working visit to Singapore from 13 to 14 August.
First Vice President of the Chamber of Representatives and Mayor of Casablanca His Excellency Abdelaaziz Omari, attended the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Association General Assembly from 5 to 7 September at the invitation of Speaker Tan Chuan Jin.
Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean made a working visit to Oman, Jordan, and Israel from 12 to 17 October.
Senior Minister of State (Environment and Water Resources) Dr Amy Khor visited Egypt from 14 to 16 October to attend the Cairo Water Week.
Minister (Environment and Water Resources) and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli visited Egypt from 14 to 16 October.
Senior Minister of State (Defence) (Foreign Affairs) Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman visited Bahrain from 26 to 28 October to attend the IISS Manama Dialogue.
Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority Chairman His Excellency Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak visited Singapore on 31 October to co-chair the 11th Abu-Dhabi Singapore Joint Forum with Minister (Communications and Information) and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations S Iswaran.
UAE Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority of Abu Dhabi His Excellency Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak visited Singapore on 31 October to co-chair the 11th Abu Dhabi-Singapore Joint Forum (ADSJF) with Minister (Communications & Information) and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations S Iswaran.
UAE Minister of State His Excellency Dr Sultan Al Jaber made a working visit to Singapore from 5 to 7 November to attend the Bloomberg New Economy Forum.
Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates His Excellency Ayman Safadi made an introductory visit to Singapore from 7 to 8 November.
Minister (Home Affairs) (Law) K Shanmugam made a working visit to the UAE from 16 to 18 November to attend the 9th Sir Bani Yas Forum.
Senior Minister of State (Defence)(Foreign Affairs) Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman visited Qatar from 15 to 16 December to participate in the 18th Doha Forum, an annual high-level discussion on security and economic issues.