UNESCO-listed Joya de Ceren preserves the everyday life of a pre-Hispanic farming community buried by volcanic ash around AD 600.
The Republic of El Salvador
El SalvadorCentral America-10:00Hours behind the UAE
About the Country
General Information
National Identity
Official Language(s)Spanish
National CurrencyUnited States Dollar (USD)
National Day(s)15 September (Independence Day)
Capitals
Political / Administrative CapitalSan Salvador
Economic CapitalSan Salvador
Cultural CapitalSan Salvador
Transport & Connectivity
Flight Duration from the UAE≈ 21 – 25 h
Connecting flights
Primary AirportEl Salvador International Airport (SAL)
Primary PortPort of Acajutla
Geography
Land Area-
Length of the Coastline307 km
Highest PointCerro El Pital (2,730 m)
Primary Inland Water Body / RiverLempa River
ClimateTropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
Border Countries
GuatemalaHonduras
2Last Updated: July 2026Source: Internal Research
Key Facts
A 12-year civil war ended with the 1992 Chapultepec Peace Accords, which reshaped the military, police and political system.
El Salvador is Central America's smallest and most densely populated country, and the only one with no Caribbean coastline.
Pupusas were officially declared the national dish of El Salvador in 2005, and the second Sunday of November is celebrated as National Pupusa Day.
The torogoz is El Salvador's national bird and is one of the country's officially recognised national symbols.
The Ruta de las Flores connects six destinations in western El Salvador known for colourful towns, coffee-growing landscapes, crafts and traditional food.
El Salvador hosted the 2021 ISA World Surfing Games, where athletes from 51 nations competed for the final 12 qualification places for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
"El Salvador" means "The Saviour", after the Divino Salvador del Mundo (Divine Saviour of the World), the country's patron. The capital's biggest festival, the Fiestas Agostinas, is held every 6 August in his honour.
Salvadoran coffee is known for its heritage Bourbon plantings and for two varieties developed in the country: Pacas, discovered in 1949 in Santa Ana, and Pacamara, a Pacas × Maragogipe cross that is prized in specialty markets.
In August 2018, El Salvador ended decades of diplomatic relations with Taiwan and recognised the People's Republic of China, one of several Central American countries to make the switch.
A state of exception in force since March 2022 has driven a dramatic fall in gang violence and homicides, while drawing international human-rights scrutiny.
El Salvador became the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021, although reforms in 2025 made its acceptance by private businesses voluntary.
Last Updated: July 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 | El SalvadorUAE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. Nayib Bukele
Since June 2019
H.E. Dr. Felix Ulloa
Since June 2019
H.E. Juana Alexandra Hill Tinoco
Since June 2019
H.E. Jerson Rogelio Posada Molina
Since July 2023
H.E. Maria Luisa Hayem Breve
Since June 2019
H.E. Admiral Rene Francis Merino Monroy
Since June 2019
Political Summary
Political System
Unitary Presidential Republic
The president is both head of state and head of government, elected with a vice president on a joint ticket. The legislature is the unicameral Legislative Assembly of 60 deputies, alongside 44 municipal councils. A 2025 constitutional reform allows indefinite presidential reelection, extends the presidential term from five to six years and eliminates the runoff.
Ruling Party
Nuevas Ideas (NI): Right-wing (since 2021)
Main Opposition Force(s)
Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA): Right-wingFarabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN): Left-wing
Next Presidential Election
Expected in February 2027
Next Legislative Election
February 2027
Last Updated: May 2026Source: Internal Research
Membership in Key Organizations and Blocs
51Organizations
23Member
8Founding Member
6Partner, Observer or Participant
14Not a Member
No organisation matches.
Last Updated: July 2026Source: Official websites of the respective organizations
Competitiveness Indexes
| Index | Year | Rank Out of | El Salvador | UAE |
|---|
No index matches.
Bilateral Relations
Diplomatic Relations and Representation
Date of Establishment of Diplomatic Relations15 Mar 200719 years of relations
UAE Ambassador
H.E. Salem Al OwaisUAE Ambassador to El Salvador · Non-residentForeign Ambassador
H.E. Gerardo Perez FigueroaAmbassador of El Salvador to the UAE · ResidentLast Updated: June 2026Source: 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
El Salvador Nationalsin the UAE | - | - | - | - |
UAE Citizensin El Salvador | - | - | - | - |
Main Agreements and MoUs
| Agreement / MOU | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
CEPAComprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement | Not Signed | In the process of negotiating Terms of Reference (TOR). |
IPPAInvestment Protection and Promotion Agreement | Signed | Signed on 26 Sep 2026. |
DTADouble Taxation Avoidance Agreement | Signed | Signed on 26 Sep 2026. |
ASAAir Services Agreement | Ratified | Signed on 24 Sep 2013.Ratified on 4 May 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: September 2026Source: Internal Research
UAE Foreign Assistance
| UAE Aid to El Salvador | Total Amount |
|---|---|
| Amount (USD Mn) | - |
Bilateral Visits
Official Visits from the UAE
- -
Official Visits to the UAE
- H.E. Dr. Felix UlloaVice President of El SalvadorFeb2025
- Mrs. Gabriela Roberta Rodriguez de BukeleFirst Lady of El SalvadorJan2022
The officials’ titles shown reflect the positions held at the time of the visit.
Last Updated: April 2026Source: 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)-
FDI Outflows (UAE Abroad)-
Source: fDi Markets
Major Companies and Investments
Major Salvadoran Companies in the UAE
- -
Major UAE Companies in El Salvador
- -
Business Support
Joint Business Council(s)-
Cooperation Opportunities
Priority level: HIGH / MEDIUM / EMERGING, based on overall attractiveness to the UAE.
Last Updated: September 2026Source: Internal Research