The United Arab Emirates has signed 38 Full Economic Partnership Agreements since the launch of the programme in September 2021, coinciding with record levels of non-oil foreign trade, which reached AED1.937 trillion during the first half of 2026.
Non-oil exports also continued to grow, reaching approximately AED452.8 billion, reflecting the expanding base of activities and products linked to the country’s foreign trade. Trade with countries where CEPAs have entered into force reached approximately AED304.3 billion during the first half of the year, while UAE exports to these markets stood at around AED66.1 billion.
Agreements span four continents
The network now includes major economies across Asia, Europe, and Africa. In Asia, the partnership network includes major markets such as India, Indonesia and Türkiye, while in Europe it extends to markets including Ukraine and Serbia. Africa is also gaining prominence within the programme through agreements and negotiations with several countries, including Kenya, Gabon and the Republic of the Congo.
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The UAE-Ukraine CEPA entered into force on 1st July 2026, opening new opportunities for trade, investment and private-sector cooperation between the two countries. The UAE-Serbia CEPA has also entered into force, providing for the liberalisation or reduction of tariffs across a significant share of tariff lines.
In July 2026, the UAE and Canada concluded negotiations on a CEPA in the shortest timeframe recorded under the programme. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached approximately US$4.2 billion in 2025, representing growth of 21% compared to 2024.
India, one of the first countries to implement a CEPA with the UAE, provides an indication of the agreements’ potential to support bilateral trade growth. Non-oil trade between the UAE and India reached AED107.5 billion during the first half of 2026.
African expansion accelerates
Recently signed agreements with African countries highlight this expansion. The UAE-Gabon CEPA seeks to strengthen trade and private-sector cooperation and facilitate investment across sectors including agriculture, logistics and renewable energy. The UAE-Republic of the Congo CEPA, meanwhile, aims to build on the growth of non-oil bilateral trade and create new opportunities for long-term partnerships and investment.
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In East Africa, the UAE and Kenya signed a CEPA aimed at strengthening trade and investment ties and improving market access between the Middle East and East African regions.
These developments coincide with continued growth in the UAE’s non-oil foreign trade, which reached AED3.8 trillion in 2025, registering growth of more than 26%, while non-oil exports increased by more than 45%.
These indicators reflect the UAE’s efforts to strengthen the openness of the national economy, diversify export markets, enhance the competitiveness of the private sector and national products, and reinforce the country’s position as a global hub for trade and investment.
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