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  1. Negotiations

UAE


The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is stepping up its efforts to forge bilateral trade deals as part of its strategy to diversify its economy parallel to fossil fuels and consolidate its geopolitical position. The UAE is aiming to sign 26 free trade agreements (usually called Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements or CEPAs) over the next few years, positioning itself as a key player in the global supply chain.

It is also a member of the regional Gulf Cooperation Council, which is a party to a number of free trade agreements, and the Greater Arab Free Trade Area.

Already an established business and tourism hub, the UAE seeks to consolidate its status as a financial powerhouse and expand into sectors such as clean energy, technology and agribusiness. Food security is a critical geostrategic concern for the UAE, given its reliance on food imports. Through a tightly controlled network of ports and logistics platforms, and new CEPAs, the UAE aims to become a central hub in the global agri-food trading system, where corporations can import and re-export products across Asia, Africa and Europe quickly and duty-free.

The UAE's ambitious network of free trade agreements spans the globe. In Africa, it has signed trade deals with Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco and the Republic of Congo, and is seeking more, including with Nigeria and the East African Community. Bilateral investment treaties have been signed with Ethiopia, Liberia, Nigeria and Zimbabwe. Over the past decade, the UAE has invested US$59.4 billion in the continent. New free trade agreements and opportunities arising from the African Continental Free Trade Area are likely to accelerate this trend.

In Latin America, the UAE has inked deals with Chile, Colombia and Costa Rica, and is negotiating with Ecuador, Mercosur and Peru. Its presence in the Asia-Pacific region is also growing, with CEPAs signed with Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Israel, South Korea and Türkiye, and ongoing negotiations with Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. An agreement with Bangladesh is at an early stage.

In Europe, agreements have been signed with Georgia, Serbia and Ukraine, and negotiations are underway with the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union. Future potential deals include those with Belarus and the European Union.

The UAE and Canada signed a bilateral investment treaty in 2018.

As the UAE accelerates its post-oil economy plans, these comprehensive trade agreements will play a key role in shaping its new economic landscape.

last update: August 2024
Photo: DP World / Facebook

See also
GCC banking sector liberalisation: FTA impact
9-Aug-2005     Khaleej Times
Recently, Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) negotiations are being held between the GCC countries and the USA. Being crucial sectors in these countries' economies, the banking and financial sectors are being considered for liberalisation in the context of these FTAs.
Committee agrees on FTA elements
25-Jul-2005    
In a meeting held recently at the Ministry of Finance and Industry (MoFI) in Dubai, the Rules of Origin National Committee agreed upon various elements including the official forms that will be adopted in the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) that are currently under negotiation between the UAE and other countries.
UAE rejects GCC pact on free trade deals: Official
21-Jun-2005    
Gulf Arab efforts to defend a customs union suffered a setback after the United Arab Emirates refused to sign an accord barring bilateral trade deals except with the United States, Gulf sources said yesterday.
UAE and Australia to hold second round of FTA talks
2-Jun-2005     Khaleej Times
The UAE and Australia will hold a second round of talks next week in Abu Dhabi to clear the way for the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to boost trade and investment between the two countries.
Azerbaijan plans FTA with UAE
7-Apr-2005    
Azerbaijan is planning to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with the UAE and the rest of the Gulf countries, a top Azerbaijani government official said yesterday.
Australia eyes free-trade deal with UAE as 'launchpad' for access to Middle East
17-Mar-2005     Daily Star
Australia and the United Arab Emirates agreed Tuesday to begin negotiations on a bilateral free-trade agreement (FTA) that Canberra said would be a "launchpad" for expanded business opportunities across the Middle East.
UAE and Australia begin talks on FTA
17-Mar-2005     Gulf News
The UAE and Australia are about to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement, officials said at a press conference yesterday.
Gulf Emirate says there are no political strings attached to free trade talks with Washington
8-Mar-2005     Middle East Online
The United Arab Emirates said on Monday it was not committing itself to any changes in foreign policy by entering into talks on a free trade pact with the United States. The statement followed reports that Washington would ask Abu Dhabi to drop a trade boycott of Israel during the negotiations, which kick off here on Tuesday.
Crashing the third party
3-Mar-2005     O'Dwyer's PR Daily
What do the Council on Foreign Relations, American Enterprise Institute, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Brookings Institution, and the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies have in common?
Central Bank discusses US FTA negotiation strategy - UAE
3-Mar-2005    
Though the negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between the UAE and the United States will take place from March 8, the banking and financial sectors has told the Central Bank of the UAE about its desire for more liberalisation.