TOKYO, December 23. /TASS/. The BRICS membership helps the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to become stronger and expand ties with the world’s largest economies, the country’s minister of economy Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri said.

"The UAE has always been a place where the economy has built on the strengths and ties of major economies. The inclusion in BRICS brings the UAE strength, as well as ties with major economies such as China, India," Al Marri said in an interview with Japan’s Nikkei Asia.

He also noted that BRICS contributes to the development of global cooperation. "The world needs more dialogue and conversation, and the BRICS bring that as well," the minister said.

Russia chairs the BRICS alliance in 2024. The BRICS summit in Kazan on October 22-24 became the central event of Russia’s presidency. Brazil will take over the BRICS’ year-long presidency on January 1, 2025.

Established in 2006, the BRIC group was made up of Brazil, Russia, India and China. In 2011, South Africa joined the group, adding the "S" to the acronym. Now it has ten members after six new countries, including Argentina, were invited to join the association in August 2023, but Argentina refused to join BRICS in late December, while the other five nations, namely Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia, became full-fledged members of BRICS from January 1, 2024.