Today, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived in the UAE after finishing a two-day visit to China for the purpose of strengthening economic and diplomatic bilateralism. 

President Lula was welcomed at the Abu Dhabi airport by the Emirati Energy and infrastructure minister Suhail bin Mohammed al-Mazrouei. Afterward, he is expected to meet Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

UAE is Brazil's second-largest trading partner in the Middle East, whereby trade was estimated to amount to around $4 billion in 2022, which marks a 32% increase from 2021.

Read more: Washington concerned of visit by Brazil's Lula to Huawei in China

In a similar trip to China earlier this week, Lula said Brazil was "back on the international stage" and expressed willingness to mediate an end to the Ukraine war. 

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China is Brazil's largest trading partner and the two constitute primary pillars of the BRICS bloc alongside Russia. The two countries have refused to join in the trend of Western sanctions against Russia following the war and have both expressed interest in initiating mediating efforts to end the conflict.

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The UAE has maintained neutrality on the conflict in Ukraine. Dubai has in fact been a hotspot for its financial hub Dubai has attracted Russian investors and entrepreneurs fleeing Western sanctions. 

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Back on Friday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said that Brazil cannot be hindered from maintaining and improving bilateral relations with China. 

Lula said during a press briefing that Brazil is committed to developing relations with China in multiple sectors, including science, technology, student exchange, culture, climate change, clean energy, and electric vehicles.