Australia seeks to strengthen relations
New ambassador says deals on security, education, free-trade agreement and culture are among the areas of focus
ABU DHABI // Education, security, trade and culture are some of the areas Australia’s ambassador to the UAE plans to focus on this year.
As the embassy prepares to celebrate Australia Day on Thursday, Arthur Spyrou is hoping to finalise agreements that would strengthen the relationship between the two countries.
He said there had been a discussion about having an Australian school in Abu Dhabi but it came to nothing.
“We’re talking again with a new opportunity because there is demand as we have a large expatriate community,” Mr Spyrou said.
There are 25,000 Australians in the UAE, making it the ninth-largest home for its citizens abroad. It has two schools in Sharjah and two universities in Dubai.
“Australia is a great education provider around the world and the third largest international university education provider,” Mr Spyrou said. “Vocational education and training are also areas in which I’d like to see more collaboration. I know it’s one of the UAE Government’s very strong aims.”
A free-trade agreement with the GCC could also be signed this year.
“It’s very important for two very strong trading nations like the UAE and Australia to be beacons and advocates for free trade. At the moment, we’re hearing positive noises for this agreement from the GCC Secretariat and we’re very hopeful,” he said.
“With the reflex towards more insular trade policies that we’re starting to hear around the world it’s important to demonstrate that free trade is crucial. The GCC is a very important market, with about 50 million people and a very high GDP-to-population ratio.”
Along with women’s empowerment and indigenous issues, Mr Spyrou will also try to finalise a police training agreement with Dubai and Abu Dhabi, something he said was very close.
“It has to do with organised crime and police-to-police work. We had about half a dozen training courses last year in the UAE and we’re looking to take it up another level and increasing the intensity.”
Australia has two police officers posted in Dubai who travel to Abu Dhabi each week to train other officers.
“Given the challenging situation in the region, collaboration in this field is very important because it really is in both of our interests,” Mr Spyrou said.
“We are also very close to completing a treaty on the transfer of prisoners. I hope it will go through this year.”
Australia’s police force was developed on the British system and is known for its discipline.
“They have experience in many fields including illegal immigration, which we have a problem with as well, and drug trafficking because they are close to South-East Asia and other regions,” said Dr Mustafa Alani, head of security and terrorism at the Gulf Research Centre.
“It is one of the police forces that has a good degree of discipline so a huge benefit could come from that.”
Ahmed Al Attar, assistant director of defence and security at Abu Dhabi think tank the Delma Institute, said the UAE frequently formed partnerships with countries, including the UK and Germany, for support on police training.
“Police training is seen as both a way to improve existing capabilities while building links between both governments’ ministries of interior,” Mr Al Attar said. From a geopolitical point of view, the country plays a significant role.
“As the UAE and the GCC countries are pivoting to the east, the cooperation with Australia is becoming acutely important,” said Dr Albadr Al Shateri, politics professor at the National Defence College.
“Two areas of importance to which Australia can contribute meaningfully are counter-terrorism and trade.”
‘ It’s very important for two very strong trading nations like the UAE and Australia to be beacons and advocates for free trade Arthur Spyrou Australia ambassador to the UAE