The Board for Friendship and Cooperation between the Republic of Bulgaria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a Bulgarian non-governmental organization, established in 2021 in the city of Sofia.
It is composed of both Bulgarian and foreign citizens, united by the desire to develop friendship, mutual respect and cooperation between the peoples of Bulgaria and the United Arab Emirates.
Since its establishment until today, the Board has functioned entirely as a civic and socially beneficial initiative of a non-commercial nature, with none of its members receiving personal financial or other material benefits from their participation in the organization. The Board's activities are based on the principles of voluntariness, transparency, mutual respect between cultures and commitment to the public good.
The main objectives of the Board are concentrated in the implementation of the following activities:
Development of economic cooperation – promotion of trade, investments and partnerships between Bulgarian and Emirati companies in various economic sectors;
Strengthening cultural and educational ties – supporting exchange in the fields of culture, science, education and tourism between the two countries;
Support of institutional dialogue and partnership – creation of a platform for cooperation between state institutions, business organizations and public structures with the aim of closer strategic partnership.
The Board for Friendship and Cooperation between the Republic of Bulgaria and the UAE, guided by the principles of international law, humanism and the long-standing friendly relations between the two countries, declares the following:
1. We strongly condemn the massive ballistic missile and drone attacks launched by Iran against civilian targets and civilians in the UAE, which began on February 28, 2026 and continue to this day. Such acts of aggression constitute a serious violation of international law and the principles of sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of States.
2. Targeting residential areas, economic infrastructure and civilian targets endangers the lives of millions of people and poses a risk to regional and international security.
3. We express our full solidarity with the people of the United Arab Emirates, as well as all foreign nationals living and working in the country. The UAE is home to approximately 11 million people, of whom approximately 85-90% are foreigners from more than 200 nationalities, making it one of the most cosmopolitan countries in the world.
4. We support the efforts of the Monarchy, the Federal Supreme Council and the Government of the UAE to protect the population and maintain stability and security in the country.
5. We offer our most sincere condolences to the families of the victims and express our deep sympathy to all who have suffered as a result of these attacks. We wish a speedy recovery to the injured.
6. We express our sympathy to all innocent people - citizens and foreigners - who have become victims of violence, destruction and fear as a result of the escalation of the conflict.
7. We also express solidarity with Bulgarian citizens who live and work in the United Arab Emirates and who are also at risk as a result of these aggressive actions.
8. We emphasize that attacks on a country known for its policies of tolerance, economic development and international cooperation undermine efforts for stability in the entire Gulf region.
9. We call on the international community and all states that share the principles of international law to undertake active diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and prevent a wider regional conflict.
10. We believe that diplomacy, dialogue and respect for the sovereignty of states are the only sustainable path to ensuring long-term peace and stability in the region.
11. We support the right of the United Arab Emirates to self-defense in accordance with the UN Charter, in order to ensure the security of its citizens, residents and guests and protect its territorial integrity.
The Friendship and Cooperation Board between the Republic of Bulgaria and the UAE will continue to work actively to strengthen the ties between our peoples, to promote cultural and public dialogue and to promote the truth about the situation in the region, as we firmly stand behind our friends in the United Arab Emirates and support efforts for peace, security and international cooperation.
BULGARIA-UAE FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION BOARD
Bg-uae.org
Sofia, Bulgaria
March 8, 2026