Canada Names Angad Singh Dhillon as New Envoy to the United Arab Emirates

The Canadian government has appointed Angad Singh Dhillon as its next Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), marking a significant diplomatic assignment for the Punjab-origin official.
The appointment was announced on September 25 by Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand. Dhillon will succeed Radha Krishna Panday as Canada’s top diplomatic representative in the UAE, according to a statement issued by the Government of Canada.
The announcement formed part of a wider diplomatic reshuffle that also included the appointment of Carmen Sorger as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Cuba, replacing Marianick Tremblay.
Dhillon traces his family roots to Ghungrana village in Punjab. Most recently, he served as Director of Operations and Stakeholder Relations in the Office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
According to the Canadian government’s biographical notes, Dhillon was among the advisers who worked on strengthening Canada’s diplomatic engagement with key bilateral partners, including India and China. His role included efforts to help restore senior-level channels of communication and cooperation with those countries.
He also led stakeholder coordination initiatives aimed at securing investment commitments into Canada and played a role in the development and planning of the country’s first national Investment Summit.
Earlier in his career, Dhillon served as Chief of Staff to two federal Cabinet ministers responsible for the small business and transport portfolios. In those positions, he supported Canada’s participation and engagement in major international forums, including the G7, G20, United Nations General Assembly, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), International Transport Forum, and the Conference of the Parties (COP).
His appointment is expected to draw considerable interest within the Punjabi diaspora because of his family connections to Punjab and his rise within Canada’s diplomatic and political establishment.
As Canada’s ambassador to the UAE, Dhillon will represent Ottawa in a country that remains an important partner for trade, investment and broader diplomatic cooperation.
The appointment comes at a time when Canada and the UAE are seeking to expand their economic relationship. On September 21, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed growing momentum in bilateral ties, including negotiations toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and opportunities to further enhance trade and investment between the two countries.
Dhillon’s posting is expected to play a key role in advancing Canada’s diplomatic and economic interests in the Gulf region as both countries continue efforts to strengthen cooperation across multiple sectors.