Diplomatic ties between Tunisia and the UK began in the 1662 treaty between Hammouda Pacha al-Mouradi and King Charles II – making nearly 4 centuries of friendship. This enduring relationship, further strengthened by Queen Elizabeth II’s state visit in 1980, continues to thrive, fostering cooperation in trade, security, education and culture.
Note successful visits of our former Foreign Secretary David Lammy in January and the Minister to the Middle East Hamish Falconer in July, further underscore the bilateral cooperation and highlights the UK’s commitment to working closely with Tunisia across our shared interests – on trade, renewable energy, education, countering terrorism and irregular migration.
TRADE
Trade between the UK and Tunisia was £726m (in the four quarters to the end of Q3 2025).
- UK exports to Tunisia: £292 million.
- UK imports from Tunisia: £434 million.
ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIPS
- Proud to highlight the launch of the SoleCrypt solar mega‑project in Tozeur — a landmark British–Tunisian investment bringing 60 MW of clean energy in its first phase by 2027, with future links to the Medusa submarine cable.
- This project reflects the UK’s long-term commitment to energy security, climate resilience, and high-tech collaboration with Tunisia, reinforcing Tunisia’s investment in green tech and innovation.
TECHNOLOGY
- The tech sector presents substantial opportunities for Tunisian businesses, particularly in fintech. Events like Fintech Week (April 2025) and London Tech Week (June 2025) provide platforms for Tunisian tech companies to showcase their innovations, network with industry leaders, and explore partnerships.
- Textiles: The textile sector in Tunisia has a strong reputation for quality and craftsmanship. By focusing on innovative designs and sustainable practices, Tunisian textile companies can tap into the UK’s fashion and apparel market, which values ethical and high-quality products.
CLIMATE
- April 2025 We officially launched a project in collaboration with WWF North Africa: Decarbonizing Artisanal Fisheries in Tunisia: Promoting Clean Energy for Sustainable Coastal Communities.
- The project is testing a self-financing model that can deliver solar electric motor retrofits to small-scale fishers in Ghannouch, Ajim and Kneiss at scale. This could lead to material reductions in fuel and noise pollution, carbon emissions and operating costs for fishers.
- The ongoing UK Met Office and BBC Media Action’s WISER project is protecting vulnerable forest communities in Tunisia and Algeria, by transforming technical weather data into life-saving, trusted local communication.
TOURISM
- Number of British visitors to Tunisia increased by 36% from 2024 to 2025.
- Total 2025 number: 448,000. (In March 2025, HMA forecast it would exceed 400,000).
- Tunisia becoming the Top Travel Destination for British Tourists Seeking Tranquil Mediterranean Escapes Away from Overtourism in 2026.
Tourism between UK and Tunisia is being strengthened through many initiatives:
- Enhanced Air Connectivity: Increasing the number of direct flights and air connectivity between the two countries can make travel more convenient for tourists. In Summer, we have 56-58 flights to Enfidha airport per week and 4 flights to Djerba airport.
- Newcastle-Enfidha flights will start in 2026. There will be 4 a week in the summer.
- Promotional Campaigns: Joint marketing campaigns highlighting Tunisia’s unique attractions and cultural heritage can attract more British tourists.
UKVI
1. The UK continues to welcome Tunisians. Visitor visa approvals have reached a regional high of 77% and study visas are now approved at 95%, supporting the flow of information and cultural exchange between our countries.
2. Electronic Visas:The UK is continuing its move to a fully digital immigration system. Physical visa documents are being replaced with an online record of a person’s identity and immigration status, known as an eVisa.
- This transition began with study and work routes in July 2025 and has now been expanded to include visit visas.
- From 25 February, all visa applicants will receive an eVisa only, which is digitally linked to the passport used in their application.
- People who already have a visa sticker in their passport can also set up a UKVI account and travel using their eVisa.
- Travellers from nationalities that previously did not require a visa must now apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) and have it ready before travelling to the UK.
3. High-level engagement in Tunisia: UKVI director visit to Tunis in 2025, met key stakeholders across tourism, business community, education institutions and the MoI.
EDUCATION
- The UK-Tunisia 8th Higher Education and Scientific Research Commission (April 2025) focused on Transnational Education and entrepreneurship. Eight UK universities joined the official meeting and divided into 3 sub-committees. In the margins of the visit, HMA met for the first time with Minister Mondher Belaid who visited SOAS and East London universities.
- Ongoing collaboration with British Council Tunisia, QAA, THE, NCEE, and UUKI supports knowledge transfer and dual-degree programs. UK universities involved include Oxford, King’s College, Swansea, Coventry, and Aberdeen, with a focus on renewable energy, AI, and short-term PhDs.
- The Skills 4 Success project, in partnership with Tunisia’s Ministry of Education, equips Year 7 students with English language and life skills such as civic rights, entrepreneurship, and climate awareness. Technical committees led by English Language Inspectors are now focusing on Y8 and Y9 toolkits. HMA delivered the opening remarks during the policy event in February 2025.
- The UK supports efforts to reduce school dropout and violence, including through its participation in the EU–UNICEF initiative to develop Tunisia’s national action plan on school safety.
- As the largest donor to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), the UK supports Tunisia’s eligibility for a $12m Multiplier Grant, aimed at strengthening education systems and increasing school access.
CHEVENING
- Chevening is a fully funded scholarship that provides the opportunity to study a Master’s in the UK, at the university of their choice, or, to participate in a 5-month research fellowship in the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies.
- The Chevening Alumni network in Tunisia is 300-strong and each year, around eight Tunisians go to the UK to study and they come back to Tunisia to lead great work. This year, Tunisians went on to study in universities of SOAS, UCL, Birkbeck, Sussex, Loughborough and Queen Mary in London… to pursue studies in international relations, climate, finance, and more.
- Applications are currently being reviewed for the next set of Chevening students, with interviews to be held in April 2026.
PROGRAMMES
- HMA signed our new project with UN Women in May 2025. The project is entitled “Transforming Social Norms and Empowering Youth to Build a Safer Digital Space Against Gender-Based Violence in Tunisia”is to reach a society free from GBV, where patriarchal norms are dismantled, digital spaces are safe for women and girls, and youth are actors of change. Through a capacity-building workshop in November in Sousse,10 digital influencers (seven women), collectively reaching more than 519,600 followers across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and radio, increased their knowledge, skills, and confidence to promote ethical digital engagement and challenge online GBV.
- We supported the EBRD Small Business Impact Fund in 2025/26. The UK contribution is dedicated to the newly created Advisory to Small Businesses (ASB) programme. The overall objective of ASB Programme is to enhance the long-term competitiveness and innovation of start-ups and SMEs in Tunisia, with a particular focus on job creation and inclusion, especially for women, youth, and companies operating outside the capital. A pipeline of 28 MSMEs was selected to receive direct consultancies, of these 39% are women-led, 39% are located outside of the capital/ in the regions, and 7% are green enterprises.
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
The Natural History Museum in London’s world-renowned Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition and exhibition—now in its 61st year— is being hosted for the first time by the British Embassy in Tunis, at the Ambassador’s Residence. This brings to Tunisia some exceptional nature photography from across the globe.
Hosting the exhibition in Tunis reflects the shared priorities of the UK and Tunisia, particularly in promoting environmental awareness, supporting climate action, and strengthening cultural exchange between the two nations.
AMBASSADOR FOR A DAY
In celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child, on 11 Oct, BE Tunis hosted two young women as Ambassador for a Day (AFAD). After winning a national essay competition on the theme of women’s leadership for girls aged 15-18, two winners were selected to shadow the Ambassador, to see first-hand how girls can become leaders and advocates for change. The 4th Edition will take place in October 2026.
AFAD is part of a global initiative first launched by the UK in Bulgaria in 2018, and now embraced by embassies around the world.
FILM
- Dhafer L’Abidine’s film “Sophia” premieres at Manchester Film Festival (28 March).
BRITISH COUNCIL
Education & Skills for the Future
- New partnership between the British Council and North American University in Sfax to expand access to the APTIS English testing system.
Heritage Preservation
- The British Council CPF has been extended to 2029 with a new round of funding to be launched in Spring 26 (open call). To date, CPF has awarded over £56 million in 160 projects in 20 countries enabling organisations and communities to protect, document and conserve culturally significant sites objects and traditions.
- £500,000 invested via the CPF to safeguard Tataouine’s heritage, including Tunisia’s first interactive museum, led by University of Durham in partnership with National Institute of Heritage INP.
- In Chenini, we inaugurated the new Digital Heritage Centre — a cutting edge space using 3D mapping, and immersive technologies to safeguard endangered sites.
- The visit to Ksar Zenata showcased inspiring collaboration between Tunisian researchers and British experts working hand in hand to restore centuries old architecture.
Creative Economy
- New MoU signed (April 2025) between British Council and Tunisia’s Ministry of Cultural Affairs to boost creative industries. First policy training cohort (20 ministry reps) in Nov 2025 with Culture Associate Oxford.
Festival Partnerships
- Live Music: Mansur Brown performs at Jaou Festival, Tunis – Oct 2024. Visual Arts: 7 emerging Tunisian artists debut at Shubbak Festival (London, May–Jun 2025) via INTERFERENCE; also featured at SeeDjerba (Aug 2025).
- Music Exchange: Dougga Festival partners with Manchester Folk Expo. Tunisian band Broua to perform in UK; UK artist Lily Lyons at Dougga. Delegations invited to EFEX March 2026
MIGRATION
- Interior Minister attendance at the OIC Border Security Summit in March 2025, was an opportunity for Tunisia to demonstrate its success in tackling irregular migration and reinforce the importance of international partnerships on this issue.
- As confirmed in the former Foreign Secretary visit in January 2025, the UK has supported Tunisian objectives through £1.5m funding towards returns and reintegration programmes, supporting migrants in Tunisia return to countries of origin in a dignified manner.
- The UK works closely with the MFA on their strategy to manage migration sustainably, and on joint priority areas; reiterated during Minister Falconers visit in July 2025.
SECURITY
- We value our continuing security partnership with Tunisia, focused on ensuring the safety of UK tourists which in 2025 totalled nearly 450,000.
DEFENCE
- Supporting Professional Development and Institution Building. We are proud to support opportunities for Tunisian officers to join advanced professional education in the UK. These programmes create lasting links between our armed forces and help develop the next generation of Tunisian military leaders. We also work closely with Tunisian partners as they strengthen national institutions — including training schools that enhance analysis, planning, and strategic decision‑making.
- Supporting Public Safety and Crisis Preparedness. We have been pleased to work together on strengthening preparedness for complex situations, including joint planning and coordination. These efforts reflect Tunisia’s commitment to continuously improving how agencies work together to protect the public.
