UAE And Japan Expand Bilateral Ties To Boost Energy, Industry And Trade Cooperation

Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber has completed a two-day official mission to Tokyo focused on reinforcing UAE-Japan economic ties, with talks covering energy, advanced technology, investment and trade. The visit included high-level government meetings and sessions with major Japanese corporations, underlining both countries’ interest in expanding long-term partnerships that support sustainable growth and private-sector collaboration.

Across the 16-17 December 2025 visit, Dr. Al Jaber, who is Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, ADNOC Managing Director & Group CEO, and Foreign Minister's Special Envoy to Japan, held a series of bilateral discussions. Shihab Ahmed Al Fahim, UAE Ambassador to Japan, attended the meetings, which addressed priority sectors and practical steps to deepen cooperation.

A central theme of the talks was the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that guides UAE-Japan relations. Discussions with senior officials highlighted the strength of existing links and the shared intention to broaden them. Both sides examined how cooperation can support regional stability while serving mutual economic interests, especially in trade, energy supply, industrial development and advanced technology deployment.

The visit placed particular attention on trade and investment flows, reflecting the scale of existing UAE-Japan trade. Total trade reached about $49.6 billion in 2024, including petroleum products, while non-oil trade stood near AED64.1 billion ($17.5 billion). This represented a 1 percent increase over 2023, underscoring steady growth despite global economic pressures.

Dr. Al Jaber’s meeting with Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, focused on current cooperation in energy, industry and advanced technology. Both sides reviewed developments in conventional and renewable energy, manufacturing, trade and investment, and considered new areas where economic links could expand, including emerging low-carbon fuels and industrial innovation.

The discussions with Ryosei Akazawa also assessed progress in negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the UAE and Japan. The proposed CEPA is intended to strengthen trade and investment ties and create a structured platform for partnerships between business communities and private sectors in both countries, supporting diversification and long-term economic planning.

UAE-Japan trade, diplomacy and sector cooperation

In a separate meeting, Dr. Al Jaber met Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Toshimitsu Motegi. Both sides stressed the importance of the "privileged bilateral relations" between the UAE and Japan and confirmed their joint commitment to reinforce these ties. They also commended how cooperation has progressed under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework linking the two nations.

Talks with Toshimitsu Motegi reviewed the wider course of collaboration across multiple fields. The two officials discussed ways to enhance bilateral engagement in a manner that supports stability and aligns with shared interests. They explored how political dialogue, economic cooperation and sector projects can move forward together to benefit both countries as long-term partners.

UAE-Japan trade, corporate links and institutional roles

Beyond government discussions, the delegation engaged with the Japan Cooperation Centre for the Middle East. The meeting examined the Centre’s role in supporting economic and industrial relations between the UAE and Japan, including work to strengthen public-private cooperation. Participants highlighted joint initiatives and programmes that help expand investment partnerships and promote exchange of expertise in priority sectors.

The programme also featured meetings with chief executives from leading Japanese firms. These included Cosmo Energy Group, active in oil refining, fuels and renewable energy; INPEX, involved in exploration and production; JERA, operating in electricity, liquefied natural gas, hydrogen and ammonia; Mitsui & Co., a large diversified trading and investment company; and Mizuho Financial Group. Discussions addressed current projects and potential new ventures.

Latest figures show how trade provides a strong base for these corporate and institutional links. The UAE is Japan’s leading trading partner in the Arab world and its seventh-largest partner globally, while Japan is the UAE’s ninth-largest trading partner worldwide. Non-oil trade for the first nine months of 2025 reached AED55 billion ($15 billion), up 21.4 percent compared with the same period in 2024.

The visit to Tokyo reinforced that UAE-Japan trade and broader cooperation are expanding across government, corporate and institutional levels. With CEPA negotiations advancing, sector-specific projects under review and trade volumes rising in both oil and non-oil segments, both sides are working to align long-term economic interests and maintain strong engagement across energy, industry, technology and investment.

With inputs from WAM