The Maldives established diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates on 15 March 1978. The Embassy of the Republic of Maldives accredited to the UAE is in Abu Dhabi.

His Excellency Ahmed Rasheed was appointed as the first Ambassador of the Republic of Maldives to the United Arab Emirates on 4 June 2012. Since then, four Ambassadors have been accredited to the UAE. Currently Her Excellency Aminath Shabeena is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Maldives to the UAE.