Dubai – a strong and growing export market
In 2017, the UAE was the largest merchandise export market for Canada in the Middle East and North Africa region.
- Canadian exports to the UAE reached CAD 1.6 billion in 2017, an increase of 41% over 2007, and its CAD 1.4 billion trade surplus with the UAE was Canada’s fourth largest globally.
- In Dubai there are over 150 Canadian companies doing business and 1,114 companies registered by Canadian citizens.
- Passenger and cargo traffic between Canada and the UAE – and Dubai in particular – is growing rapidly.
- In 2009, Canada and the UAE signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Trade and Investment, recognition of the tremendous potential for growth in commerce between Canada and the UAE. The two countries recently concluded a nuclear cooperation agreement (NCA), which will include supplying Canadian uranium and technology to the UAE.
- With an aim to re-energise the business relationship and to further promote trade and the strategic partnership between the two countries, the UAE and Canada launched a joint business council in Montreal, Canada in October 2013.
- Even Star Alliance member Air Canada has acknowledged the Dubai-Canada market is underserved as it began offering flights from Toronto to Dubai in November 2015.
We believe that increased access for Emirates to Canada would have a positive impact on Canada’s trade relationship with the UAE, facilitating the carriage of goods and people between the two countries. While the Canadian government promotes ‘open skies’ agreements, many of its own such agreements have been with countries which are less valuable export markets for Canada.
In countries where ‘open skies’ agreements have been reached, Canada’s trading relationship with these countries is markedly different compared with the UAE and Dubai:
Country |
Canadian exports in 2017 (CAD millions) |
Export ranking |
Total trade in 2017 (CAD millions) |
Total trade ranking |
South Korea |
5,203 |
6 |
13,907 |
7 |
Switzerland |
1,998 |
15 |
6,398 |
15 |
Brazil |
1,711 |
18 |
6,423 |
14 |
United Arab Emirates |
1,603 |
21 |
1,792 |
37 |
Ireland |
588 |
39 |
2,901 |
27 |
New Zealand |
494 |
41 |
1,202 |
49 |
Trinidad and Tobago |
305 |
53 |
481 |
67 |
Dominican Republic |
166 |
64 |
1,391 |
44 |
Costa Rica |
159 |
65 |
675 |
59 |
Jamaica |
123 |
73 |
291 |
75 |
Iceland |
79 |
82 |
177 |
83 |
El Salvador |
59 |
90 |
165 |
90 |
Honduras |
43 |
102 |
427 |
68 |
Nicaragua |
41 |
104 |
168 |
89 |
Barbados |
37 |
107 |
50 |
115 |
Guyana |
29 |
113 |
690 |
58 |
Belize |
16 |
133 |
18 |
149 |
Curaçao |
15 |
135 |
16 |
152 |
Antigua and Barbuda |
10 |
153 |
10 |
166 |
Saint Lucia |
9 |
156 |
9 |
167 |
Sint Maarten |
6 |
164 |
6 |
178 |
Source: Statistics Canada & US Census Bureau
As the table demonstrates, the UAE is a significantly larger export market for Canada than most of the other listed countries where these ‘open skies’ agreements exist, with the exception of South Korea, Switzerland and Brazil. This further highlights the potential to significantly boost trade if Emirates flights to Canada were increased.
A new tourism source market for Canada
Canada’s tourism industry is suffering, with inbound traffic from traditional markets showing substantial decreases. According to Destination Canada, the country welcomed an estimated 19.97 million international overnight visitors in 2016, still short of the record 20.06 million arrivals in 2002. Provincial governments and tourism operators are desperately seeking to open new source markets, including the UAE.
UAE tourists are some of the most sought after in the world, spending on average CAD 10,000 per person, per week when on vacation. The average vacation stay for an Emirati in the USA is one month, though many will stay for up to eight weeks.
This same potential exists for Canada and Emirates has the ability to connect the country with these tourists. However, the opportunity is being lost because of existing flight restrictions. As outlined in the table below, other countries have opened their doors to increased Emirates services and the economic and tourism benefits that follow.
Country |
Emirates Weekly Flights (Summer 2018) |
Flight restrictions* |
United Kingdom |
126 |
Unrestricted |
United States |
98 |
Unrestricted |
Australia |
91 |
105 |
Germany |
70 |
Unrestricted |
South Africa |
56 |
56 |
New Zealand |
14 |
Unrestricted |
Canada |
3 |
3 |
*The maximum number of Emirates weekly flights allowed under existing air services agreements between the UAE and the country in question.
Canada's opportunity
The strong commercial, tourism and economic benefits to Canada can only be fully realised by increasing the flight frequency entitlements under the current Air Transport Agreement between Canada and the UAE. Dubai has become a global economic player, providing a wide range of opportunities for Canadian businesses. Strengthening the relationship between Emirates and Canada with increased flights to and from Dubai would further promote trade, investment, tourism and employment, generating substantial economic and social benefits to Canada and its citizens.