On 8 October 2026 in Bangkok, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced the conclusion of negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Suphajee Suthumpun also attended the signing meeting. This is another major expansion of the UAE's CEPA trade portfolio — this time towards ASEAN.
What has been announced
Negotiations began in 2023, when the two countries also launched a joint business council. After several rounds, the final text of the CEPA was agreed in Bangkok on 8 October 2026. Legal and technical procedures, signing and ratification still lie ahead. Until the agreement enters into force, the current tariff regime and customs rules between the two countries remain unchanged.
Trade numbers
Non-oil trade reached $10.2 billion in the first half of 2026 — up 75.4% year on year. For the full year 2025 it stood at $12.3 billion, 65.2% higher than 2024. In other words, in just one half of 2026 the two countries almost matched the entire previous year — momentum is accelerating even before CEPA takes effect.
Priority sectors
The agreement targets six areas:
- advanced manufacturing;
- logistics;
- food security;
- digital trade;
- renewable energy;
- precious metals.
For businesses in these niches, CEPA will mean tariff reductions or elimination, streamlined procedures and — critical for larger contracts — access to each other's public procurement markets.
What this means for UAE business
No tariff change takes effect until ratification. But planning 2027–2028 with CEPA in mind is now reasonable. Companies in priority sectors can revisit supply chains, explore joint ventures and treat Thailand as a hub for the broader ASEAN market — a 10-country bloc with over 680 million consumers. Logistics operators in the UAE — particularly those based in specialised free zones and ports — should map in advance which HS codes are likely to receive preferences once the deal is signed.
Context: the UAE CEPA portfolio
Thailand is another major economy joining the UAE's CEPA roster, which has grown to more than 30 partners since 2022. Among those already signed or in force: India, Turkey, Indonesia, Israel, Cambodia, South Korea, Mauritania, Georgia, Kenya, Costa Rica, Australia, Vietnam, Malaysia, New Zealand, Chile and the EAEU. For the UAE, CEPA is a core instrument of its strategy to raise non-oil foreign trade to $1.1 trillion by 2031.
"Thailand is one of the most dynamic and diversified economies in the region, and this agreement will open new avenues for companies on both sides," Dr Al Zeyoudi said after the meeting (quote via The National).
For UAE companies already working with — or planning to engage — Thai counterparts, Garant Business Consultancy is tracking the signing and ratification process and will update its practical briefings on which goods, services and investment schemes qualify for preferences as soon as the final text is published.
