The UAE is expected to sign between three and six more Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) before the end of the year, said Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade. In statements to WAM, Al Zeyoudi noted that the country has concluded 28 CEPA agreements so far, with 10 already in force.
He added that the UAE achieved historic figures in non-oil foreign trade during the first half of 2025, with a growth rate exceeding 24.5 percent. The total value reached over AED1.7 trillion, a rate 14 times higher than the global average of approximately 1.75 percent, reflecting the strength of the UAE’s long-term economic strategies and forward-looking policies.
UAE’s non-oil exports leap to nearly AED370 billion
Al Zeyoudi highlighted the vital role played by the UAE’s expanding international partnerships, CEPA program, comprehensive economic system and advanced logistics infrastructure in solidifying the country’s position as a global trade hub.
He said that imports rose by 22.5 percent, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a major global re-export centre. Meanwhile, the re-export value increased by 14 percent to reach approximately AED389 billion, emphasising the country’s pivotal role in global supply chains.
Al Zeyoudi added that non-oil exports witnessed a significant leap to nearly AED370 billion, three times their value five years ago. The non-oil exports marked a remarkable growth rate of more than 44.7 percent—the first time in the nation’s history—alongside a staggering growth rate of 80 percent when compared to the first half of 2023.
Among the top 10 recipients of the UAE’s non-oil exports, CEPA partners accounted for AED85.02 billion, reflecting a growth of 62.8 percent and representing a 23 percent share of the UAE’s non-oil exports.
Meanwhile, national exports accounted for more than 21.4 percent of total foreign trade, demonstrating the effectiveness of the UAE’s diversification strategy and industrial sector development.
Read: UAE’s non-oil foreign trade achieves record 24 percent growth to $462.8 billion in H1 2025
Trade with India grows 34 percent
Al Zeyoudi also highlighted the outcomes of the UAE’s National Industrial Strategy, which focused on transitioning from re-exporting to direct exporting and on targeting specific markets through CEPAs. This strategic shift, he noted, has contributed to market diversification and significantly enhanced the global competitiveness of UAE-made products.
He also noted that trade with India recorded a growth of nearly 34 percent, while trade with Türkiye surged by over 40 percent, underscoring the tangible impact of the UAE’s open economic policy and proactive engagement with global markets.
The opening of international markets to Emirati producers, exporters and manufacturers, alongside efforts to attract foreign direct investment, constitutes a core pillar of the nation’s trade strategy, Al Zeyoudi said.
