In a drive to secure growing trade and diplomatic links and to boost bilateral investment, Malta and the United Arab Emirates have begun another round of discussions in Valletta, the Maltese capital, on the elimination of double taxation.

In the words of Nasser Al Suweidi, director of investments at the Ministry of Finance and Industry in the UAE government, the talks will "pave the way for drawing up the legal framework of the agreement which would lead to an economic equilibrium.” He also envisaged further developments in aviation links between Malta and the UAE.

The UAE already enjoys double taxation treaties with 43 countries and, Al Suweidi revealed, the UAE is currently discussing the issue of double tax avoidance with the Netherlands, Switzerland, Russia, South Africa, Slovakia and the UK, and that further agreements are envisaged with Croatia, Luxembourg, Sweden and Uzbekistan.