Political and trade relations were the focus of discussions between International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and her United Arab Emirates (UAE) counterpart, Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, in Cape Town on Thursday.

The UAE, a constellation of seven emirates on the Persian Gulf, including Dubai, is the twety-fourth largest market for South African products.

South Africa and the UAE maintain a very strong economic relationship, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said in a statement.

"[The UAE] is a major investor in South Africa, the largest investment being Dubai World's acquisition of the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.

"There are some 210 South African companies with representative offices in the UAE and many have been involved in major projects in several of the emirates," it said.

Among issues to be discussed between the two Ministers were: the status of bilateral political and economic relations; developments in Africa and South Africa; developments in the Middle East; and, support for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

"The UAE is one of South Africa's lucrative markets in the Gulf, and current statistics show that trade between South Africa and the UAE, especially gold exports from South Africa, is gaining momentum.

"Apart from gold, South Africa is also a major exporter of steel to the emirates, and South African construction, consultancy and service sectors are also playing a big role in the rapid development of the UAE.

"Major South African exports to the UAE comprise base metals and allied products, steel for both construction and general engineering, machinery, electronics equipment, minerals, defence equipment, chemicals, plastic goods and foodstuff.

"In the reverse direction, UAE exports to SA are oil-related products, machinery, transportation equipment, consumer electronics, home appliances, ball bearings, computer accessories and textiles," the department said.