The Emirates has signed 38 comprehensive economic partnership agreements, opening new markets across Asia and Africa as non-oil foreign trade continues to grow
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Photo source: NatanaelGinting / iStock
The United Arab Emirates is accelerating the expansion of its global trade network, using a growing portfolio of economic partnership agreements to open new markets for national exports and strengthen the country's position as an international trade and investment hub.
The UAE has concluded 38 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) since launching the programme in 2021, extending its trade network across Asia, Africa and other major markets. An increasing number of the agreements have entered into force, improving market access and reducing tariffs and other trade barriers for UAE exporters, as reported by Emirates News Agency (WAM), a TV BRICS partner.
The expansion comes as the country's non-oil foreign trade reaches record levels. In the first half of 2026, non-oil foreign trade totalled approximately US$527.4 billion, while non-oil exports reached around US$123.2 billion.
Trade with countries where the UAE's CEPAs are already in force reached approximately US$82.9 billion in the first six months of 2026. UAE exports to these markets stood at around US$18 billion.
Recent agreements with African partners are designed to deepen trade and investment links in areas such as agriculture, logistics and renewable energy. The UAE-Kenya agreement is also intended to improve market access and strengthen commercial connections between the Middle East and East Africa.
The partnership with India illustrates the potential impact of the agreements. Non-oil trade between the UAE and India reached approximately US$29.3 billion in the first half of 2026, reinforcing India's position as one of the UAE's key trading partners.
The UAE is increasingly linking its trade agreements with efforts to expand industrial exports and integrate domestic production into global value chains. Broader market access is expected to give manufacturers and other exporters greater opportunities to enter established and emerging markets.
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