The UAE expects to sign between five and seven new Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) before the end of 2026, Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi told state news agency WAM. Canada is closest to the finish line, while talks with Rwanda, Ghana, Zambia, Peru and Bangladesh have reached advanced stages.
Who and when: the minister's statement
Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi laid out the pipeline in a statement to state news agency WAM on 20 July 2026. His remarks were subsequently detailed by The National on 21 July, and they sit alongside the H1 2026 trade readout published by the Dubai Media Office on 19 July, which cited Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
The minister framed the push as part of a broader trade-diversification agenda. Despite global geopolitical challenges, he said, the UAE is holding the pace it set for opening new markets.
Countries by negotiation stage
Six named tracks account for the bulk of the near-term pipeline.
- Canada — talks are nearing conclusion and, on current signals, this is the frontrunner among the pending deals.
- Africa: Rwanda, Ghana, Zambia — all three are in the final stages of negotiation, extending the UAE's reach across Sub-Saharan supply chains.
- Peru — the first CEPA on the South American continent is at a "good progress" stage, opening a fresh geography for Emirati exporters.
- Bangladesh — described by Dr. Al Zeyoudi as one of Asia's fastest-growing economies, also at "good progress".
- European Union — the seventh round of talks has been completed. The minister acknowledged the pace is slower than in the bilateral tracks — a candid signal for anyone modelling EU–UAE tariff timelines.
What is already signed and in force
The UAE has now signed 37 CEPAs since launching the programme, of which 18 are in force. The list of live partners includes India, Türkiye, Jordan, Serbia, Vietnam and Ukraine — a mix of large consumer markets, industrial hubs and gateway economies for Emirati re-export flows.
For businesses already operating out of Dubai or Abu Dhabi, that in-force list matters more than the pipeline. It defines the tariff lines, rules of origin and services concessions available to shippers today.
H1 2026 numbers and the 2031 target
The commercial case for CEPAs is showing up in the topline. According to the Dubai Media Office statement citing Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE non-oil foreign trade reached Dh1.937 trillion in the first half of 2026, up 13.1% year-on-year. Non-oil exports climbed 23.9% to Dh452.8 billion — outrunning the overall trade curve, which is exactly the pattern policymakers wanted.
Trade with CEPA partners specifically accounted for Dh304.3 billion in H1: Dh193.5 billion of imports, Dh66.1 billion of non-oil exports and roughly Dh44.7 billion of re-exports. That is close to one dirham in six of the country's non-oil trade routed through a CEPA counterpart — a share that will only grow as new agreements enter into force.
The medium-term goalpost stays put: Dh4 trillion (about $1.089 trillion) of annual non-oil foreign trade by 2031. Every additional CEPA is a lever toward that number.
What this means for business and expats in the UAE
For company owners and traders on the ground, the practical read-across is fairly concrete.
- Lower landed costs. Preferential tariffs and simplified rules of origin typically translate into cheaper imports routed via UAE free zones — a direct margin lift for e-commerce sellers, distributors and industrial importers.
- Wider export markets. Services chapters in these agreements ease market access for UAE-licensed consultancies, tech firms and logistics operators — relevant for expat entrepreneurs weighing where to incorporate their next entity.
- Regional-HQ case. A broader CEPA network reinforces the UAE's positioning as a stable base for regional headquarters — useful when negotiating with clients or banks that stress-test jurisdictional risk.
- Timing. Canada, Rwanda, Ghana, Zambia, Peru and Bangladesh are the near-term signals; the EU track is the longer horizon. If your sourcing map already touches any of those six markets, it is worth reviewing HS codes and origin documentation now rather than after the ink dries.
Sources
- Primary (minister's statement): Zawya (WAM mirror), 20 July 2026
- Detailed analysis: The National, 21 July 2026
- H1 2026 macro data (Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid statement): Dubai Media Office, 19 July 2026
- Responsible ministry: UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade (MoFT).
