Kurdish specialist Marianna Charountaki believes that the United Arab Emirates "interacts with the KRG as a de facto state entity".

Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani has described the ties with the United Arab Emirates as being: "very important to the Kurds.

[4] Emirati Minister of Cabinet Affairs & the Future Mohammed Al Gergawi described the ties between the United Arab Emirates and Kurdistan Region as "good".

[5] In May 2012, Kurdish President Masoud Barzani visited the United Arab Emirates and met with Emirati Prime Minister and Vice-President Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to strengthen political, economic, cultural and investment ties.

[7] In January 2014, it was estimated that the United Arab Emirates' investments in Kurdistan Region amounted to about 2,5 billion dollars.