The Colonial City of Santo Domingo contains the first cathedral, hospital, customs house and university established in the Americas.
The Dominican Republic
Dominican RepublicCaribbean-8:00Hours behind the UAE
About the Country
General Information
National Identity
Official Language(s)Spanish
National CurrencyDominican Peso (DOP)
National Day(s)27 February (Independence Day)
Capitals
Political / Administrative CapitalSanto Domingo
Economic CapitalSanto Domingo
Cultural CapitalSanto Domingo
Transport & Connectivity
Flight Duration from the UAE≈ 19 – 23 h
Connecting flights
Primary AirportPunta Cana International Airport (PUJ)
Primary PortCaucedo Multimodal Port
Geography
Land Area-
Length of the CoastlineApproximately 1,288 km
Highest PointPico Duarte (3,098 m); highest peak in the Caribbean
Primary Inland Water Body / RiverYaque del Norte River (longest river)
Lake Enriquillo (Caribbean's largest lake and lowest point)
ClimateTropical maritime; wet and dry seasons; hurricane-prone
Border Countries
Haiti
1Last Updated: October 2026Source: Internal Research
Key Facts
The music and dance of Dominican merengue were added to UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016.
Dominican bachata was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2019.
Traditional knowledge and practices for making and consuming cassava bread in the Dominican Republic were inscribed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage in 2024.
Larimar is a rare blue semiprecious stone found only in the Dominican Republic and was declared the country's national stone in 2011.
Dominican amber is known for its exceptional clarity and fossil inclusions, while rare blue amber is found in mines near Santiago.
The first recorded baseball game in the Dominican Republic took place in 1886 after the sport was introduced from Cuba.
The Dominican Republic won the 2013 World Baseball Classic with a perfect 8-0 record, becoming the first team to win the tournament undefeated.
The Bancos de La Plata and Navidad Marine Mammal Sanctuary, created in 1986, was the first marine mammal sanctuary established in the Atlantic Ocean.
Los Haitises National Park contains extensive mangrove forests, limestone formations and caves with petroglyphs and pictographs left by Indigenous peoples.
The 27 Charcos de Damajagua are a series of waterfalls and natural pools where visitors can hike, jump and slide through the landscape.
The Dominican Republic's cocoa bean exports reached approximately $668.9 Mn in 2025, an increase of $237.2 Mn compared with 2024.
Last Updated: October 2026Source: Internal Research
Economic Overview
Macroeconomic Snapshot
GDP, current prices-USD Billions
Real GDP growth-Annual percent change (%)
GDP per capita, current prices-USD per capita
Population-Millions of people
General government gross debt-% of GDP
Income levelWorld Bank classification-
Economic Comparison
| Indicator |  UAE | Dominican RepublicUAE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP, current pricesUSD Billions | - | - | |
| GDP, PPPCurrent int$ | - | - | |
| Real GDP growthAnnual percent change (%) | - | - | |
| GDP per capita, current pricesUSD per capita | - | - | |
| PopulationMillions of people | - | - | |
| Unemployment rate% of total labor force | - | - | |
| Inflation rate (avg. consumer prices)Annual percent change (%) | - | - | |
| General government gross debt% of GDP | - | - | |
| Income levelWorld Bank classification | - | - |
Foreign Trade
No data available for this section yet.
Political Overview
Leadership
H.E. Luis Abinader
Since August 2020
H.E. Raquel Pena
Since August 2020
H.E. Victor Bisono Haza
Since August 2026
H.E. Magin Diaz
Since July 2025
H.E. Dr. Eduardo Sanz Lovaton
Since January 2026
H.E. Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Fernandez Onofre
Since August 2024
Political Summary
Political System
Representative Democratic Republic
The President serves as both Head of State and Head of Government. A president may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms and is then permanently barred from running again.
Ruling Party
Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM): Centre-left (since August 2020)
Main Opposition Force(s)
People's Force (FP): Centre-left. Led by former President Leonel Fernandez, it is currently the main opposition force, holding the second-largest number of seats in Congress.Dominican Liberation Party (PLD): Centre to centre-left. It was the dominant ruling party for 16 consecutive years (2004–2020) before being unseated by the PRM and experiencing internal splits that led to the creation of the FP.
Next Presidential Election
Expected in May 2028
Next Legislative Election
May 2028
Last Updated: October 2026Source: Internal Research
Membership in Key Organizations and Blocs
48Organizations
26Member
6Founding Member
5Partner, Observer or Participant
11Not a Member
No organisation matches.
Last Updated: October 2026Source: Official websites of the respective organizations
Competitiveness Indexes
| Index | Year | Rank Out of | Dominican Republic | UAE |
|---|
No index matches.
Bilateral Relations
Diplomatic Relations and Representation
Date of Establishment of Diplomatic Relations12 Nov 200818 years of relations
UAE Ambassador
No Accredited AmbassadorForeign Ambassador
H.E. Renso Herrera FrancoAmbassador of the Dominican Republic to the UAE · ResidentLast Updated: June 2026Source: MoFA; Internal Research
Flights by UAE Carriers
Passenger Flights
October 2026 figures0Total Weekly Passenger Flights
EYEtihad Airways0
EKEmirates0
FZflydubai0
G9Air Arabia0
Cargo Flights
October 2026 figures0Total Weekly Cargo Flights
EYEtihad Cargo0
EKEmirates SkyCargo0
Last Updated: October 2026Source: GCAA
Consular Information
Tourists | Residents | Students | Golden Visa Holders | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dominican Republic Nationalsin the UAE | - | - | - | - |
UAE Citizensin Dominican Republic | - | - | - | - |
Main Agreements and MoUs
| Agreement / MOU | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
CEPAComprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement | Not Signed | - |
IPPAInvestment Protection and Promotion Agreement | Not Signed | - |
DTADouble Taxation Avoidance Agreement | Not Signed | - |
ASAAir Services Agreement | Signed | Protocol amending the Air Services Agreement was signed on 18 Nov 2021.Air Services Agreement was signed on 3 Nov 2014. |
Ratified— Signed and entered into force
Signed— Signed, but entry into force or ratification is pending
Not Signed— No signed agreement exists
Last Updated: October 2026Source: Internal Research
UAE Foreign Assistance
| UAE Aid to Dominican Republic | Total Amount |
|---|---|
| Amount (USD Mn) | - |
Bilateral Visits
Official Visits from the UAE
- H.E. Omar ShehadehEnvoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Caribbean and Pacific StatesJul2026
- H.E. Noura bint Mohamed Al KaabiMinister of StateOct2025
- H.E. Reem bint Ebrahim Al HashimyMinister of State for International CooperationMay2018
Official Visits to the UAE
- H.E. Luis AbinaderPresident of the Dominican RepublicFeb2026
- H.E. Victor Bisono HazaMinister of Housing, Habitat and Buildings of the Dominican RepublicFeb2026
- H.E. Joel Adrian Santos EchavarriaMinister of Energy and Mines of the Dominican RepublicJan2026
- H.E. Martin FrancosVice Minister of Planning and Public Investment of the Dominican RepublicDec2025
- H.E. Alan Jimenez MartinezVice Minister of Public Service of the Dominican RepublicDec2025
- H.E. Luis Madera SuedVice Minister of Government Monitoring and Coordination of the Dominican RepublicDec2025
- H.E. Luis Madera SuedVice Minister of Government Monitoring and Coordination of the Dominican RepublicJun2025
- H.E. Rafael Orlando Gomez Del GiudiceVice Minister of Energy of the Dominican RepublicApr2024
- H.E. Victor Bisono HazaMinister of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs of the Dominican RepublicMay2023
- H.E. Miguel Ceara HattonMinister of Economy, Planning and Development of the Dominican RepublicMar2022
The officials’ titles shown reflect the positions held at the time of the visit.
Last Updated: September 2026Source: MoFA; Internal Research
Trade
Non-Oil Bilateral Trade
-
Rank Among UAE's Trade Partners
-Non-oil trade partner of the UAE
-Source of UAE imports
-Destination for UAE exports
-Destination for UAE re‑exports
Key Trade Commodities
-
Foreign Direct Investment Flows
FDI Inflows (Into the UAE)-
Jan 2021 – Sep 2026
FDI Outflows (UAE Abroad)417.2USD Millions
Capex and jobs data include estimated values.
Last Updated: November 2026Source: fDi Markets
Major Companies and Investments
Major Dominican Companies in the UAE
- -
Major UAE Companies in the Dominican Republic
Last Updated: October 2026Source: Internal Research
Business Support
Joint Business Council(s)-
Cooperation Opportunities
No data available for this section yet.