Full list: The UAE’s 27 CEPA agreements and counting

Trade agreements are moving to the forefront of global policy discussions — especially following US President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of blanket tariffs on over 190 countries and regions.

Amid this backdrop, the UAE has pressed ahead with its Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs), which aim to lower trade barriers with key global partners and drive its economic diversification strategy.

This week, the UAE signed its 27th CEPA with the Republic of the Congo. Talks have also been confirmed with the European Union (EU) — the UAE’s second-largest trading partner — to explore a potential agreement.

Read more: EU, UAE eye closer trade ties as CEPA talks set to begin

Launched in September 2021, the CEPA programme underscores the UAE’s intent to strengthen its regional and international economic footprint. By 2031, the UAE aims to grow the total value of its non-oil foreign trade in goods to Dhs4tn and boost non-oil exports to Dhs800bn.

CEPA agreements are designed to eliminate or reduce tariffs and customs duties, remove technical barriers to trade, enhance market access for UAE exporters, and accelerate investment into priority sectors, according to the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) Middle East.

To date, the UAE has initiated CEPA discussions with 27 countries. Eight agreements are already in force, while 14 are currently undergoing technical or ratification procedures.

In 2025 alone, the UAE signed six new agreements — with Malaysia, New Zealand, Kenya, Ukraine, the Central African Republic, and the Republic of the Congo — expanding its global trade network and creating new opportunities for its private sector across dynamic, fast-growing economies.

Additionally, the UAE has concluded CEPA negotiations with the five member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) — Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia — with signing expected soon. Talks are also in their final stages with Japan and other nations, with deals likely before the end of 2025.

By advancing these deep partnerships across continents, the UAE is reinforcing its global trade position and paving the way for sustainable economic growth. These agreements align with the “We the UAE 2031” vision, aiming to reduce trade barriers, attract foreign investment, and support the country’s long-term non-oil trade goals.

Here is a list of all the UAE’s CEPA agreements and the status thereof as well as the estimated trade benefits:

---

UAE CEPA agreements in force

• India
  Signed: Feb 2022 | In force: May 2022
  Non-oil trade grew 20.5%, with UAE exports to India surging 75% by end-2024.
• Israel
  Signed: May 2022 | In force: Apr 2023
  Non-oil trade reached $2.49bn in 2022 — up 90% YoY. Target of $10bn by 2030.
• Indonesia
  Signed: Jul 2022 | In force: Sep 2023
  Goal: Raise bilateral non-oil trade from $4.08bn to $10bn in five years.
• Turkey
  Signed: Mar 2023 | In force: Sep 2023
  Non-oil trade hit $18.9bn, projected to reach $40bn in five years.
• Cambodia
  Signed: Jun 2023 | In force: Jan 2024
  Aims to reach $1bn in non-oil trade by 2030.
• Georgia
  Signed: Oct 2023 | In force: Jun 2024
  Expected to triple non-oil trade to $1.5bn; adds $3.9bn to UAE GDP by 2031.
• Costa Rica
  Signed: Apr 2024 | In force: Apr 2025
  Non-oil trade grew 27.5% YoY in 2024, topping $82.6m.
• Mauritius
  Signed: Jul 2024 | In force: Apr 2025
  Potential to add 1.2% to UAE’s GDP and 1% to Mauritius’ economy by 2031.

---

Other CEPA signings (pending ratification)

• Vietnam (Oct 2024): Supports UAE’s $4tn non-oil trade goal by 2031.
• South Korea (May 2024): Aligns with Korea’s Green New Deal targets.
• Chile (Jul 2024): Expected to more than double trade to $750m by 2030.
• Australia (Nov 2024): Aims to triple trade by 2032, with focus on renewables and manufacturing.
• Jordan (Oct 2024): Non-oil trade hit $4.2bn in 2023; $2.7bn in H1 2024 alone (+36.8% YoY).
• Serbia (Oct 2024): Part of broader goal to hit $1tn in total trade by 2031.
• Colombia (Apr 2024): Trade up 43% in 2023 to $53.1m — double 2021 levels.
• Morocco (Jul 2024): Contributed to UAE’s record $710bn non-oil trade in 2023 (+12.6% YoY).
• Kenya (Jan 2025): Trade forecast to rise from $3.1bn (2024) to $7.2bn by 2032.
• Malaysia (Jan 2025): Focused on high-growth sectors and FDI.
• New Zealand (Jan 2025): UAE attracted $74.2m in FDI from NZ in 2021; invested $170.2m.
• Ukraine (Feb 2025): Seeks to double trade. Trade hit $372.4m in 2024 despite conflict.
• Central African Republic (Mar 2025): Trade rose 75% YoY to $252m in 2024.
• Republic of the Congo (Apr 2025): Trade forecast to grow from $3.1bn to $7.2bn by 2032.

---

Completed CEPA negotiations (pending signing)

• Russian Federation
• Armenia
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Belarus

Non-oil trade with EAEU bloc reached $13.7bn in H1 2024, up 29.6% YoY.