President Jacob Zuma has requested the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to review the ban on that country’s import of South African horses and meat produce.

In his meeting with the President of the United Arab Emirates, President Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Hahayn, President Zuma raised concern that the export restrictions had not been resolved.

The Middle East is currently South Africa’s biggest trading partner for horse exports, the majority being endurance horses. On average South Africa exports one hundred horses a year to the Middle East.

The UAE suspended direct imports of horses from South Africa following the outbreak of African Horse Sickness in 2004 and since then all exports had to be routed via the EU or Mauritius, which increased costs by about 150 per cent and made South African horses less competitive.

President Zuma requested the UAE Government to send a delegation to South Africa to conduct an inspection visit and to investigate the country’s control systems. In June 2011, a Protocol was submitted to the UAE Government to propose direct export of horses following a 40-day quarantine period at the Kenilworth Quarantine Station in Cape Town.

The UAE has banned the importation of South African livestock and meat (fresh and frozen meat products) due to the prevalence of Foot-and-Mouth disease and Rift Valley Fever. President Zuma said the two governments should intensify discussions to resolve the matter.

South Africa and the UAE maintain a good defence relationship characterised by the exchange of high-level visits and joint training programmes.

South Africa has many professionals in the UAE. A large number of South African health professionals, perhaps as many as one thousand, have been attracted to the UAE. President Zuma told the UAE President that he would like to see a possible conclusion of an agreement that would manage the use of South African health professionals by the UAE, and also the possible training of UAE medical students in South Africa.
Trade between the two countries is healthy, standing at R12 billion, but there is room for improvement.

President Zuma is in the Gulf States on State visits in Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Muscat in Oman. The visits are intended to enhance relations between South Africa and the UAE in various areas, especially political and economic ones, defence, health cooperation as well as on legal matters.