Abu Dhabi, August 25, 2023, The BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—have officially accepted the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a member after the five founding nations granted its request, according to a report from the UAE news agency WAM. According to WAM, the news was made at the 15th BRICS summit, which took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, from August 22 to 24. The UAE is a long-time partner of the BRICS group, having taken part in the "Friends of BRICS" gathering in Cape Town last June, which was held alongside the BRICS group's meeting of foreign ministers, which was presided over by South Africa. According to WAM, joining the BRICS group reflects the UAE's keenness on pluralism in supporting peace and development to achieve the well-being and prosperity of peoples and nations around the world. The BRICS New Development Bank, which was founded in 2015 to raise funds for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in emerging markets, developing countries, and BRICS nations, also welcomed the UAE as a member in October 2021.
