Dublin City Council has been fostering international relationships since the establishment of its International Relations Unit in 2007. This unit plays a key role in hosting international delegations, coordinating staff exchanges, promoting Dublin globally, and managing the city's twinning and partnership initiatives. It also collaborates with multi-city organizations like Eurocities, providing economic partnerships and advice to various council units.

Dublin is twinned with five cities around the world: San Jose (United States), Liverpool (United Kingdom), Barcelona (Spain), Beijing (China), and Ramallah (Palestine). These partnerships have facilitated cultural exchange, economic collaboration, and shared global initiatives. The city's international connections also extend to several "friendship" or "co-operation" agreements with cities like Moscow (Russia, since 2009), St Petersburg (Russia, since 2010), and Guadalajara (Mexico, since 2013). Dublin has previously maintained such agreements with other cities like Mexico City, Tbilisi (Georgia), and Wuhan (China) in the past.

Through these initiatives, Dublin continues to strengthen its international presence, build cultural bridges, and promote collaborative efforts that benefit both the city and its partner cities globally. The international relations efforts are a testament to Dublin's ongoing commitment to global diplomacy and cultural exchange.