UAE Egypt CEPA Negotiations Progress As Ministers Chart Deeper Economic Ties

Talks toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and Egypt moved forward as Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi visited Egypt with a senior delegation, while both sides reported progress on key negotiation files and highlighted growing non-oil trade that reached about US$8.4 billion in 2024, up 21% from 2023.

The planned Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement is designed to strengthen existing trade flows and open further investment channels between the two economies, with a focus on sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and renewable energy, while also supporting greater collaboration between private companies in both countries across regional and global markets.

During the visit, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, met Hassan Al-Khatib, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade of the Arab Republic of Egypt, where both ministers reviewed what their technical teams had achieved so far and reiterated a shared intention to deepen bilateral economic ties over the coming period.

Working groups from the UAE and Egypt have been drafting different chapters of the future Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, paying attention to rules of origin for products, conditions for factories based in free zones, frameworks for trade in services, and standards for digital commerce, which together are expected to shape how businesses operate between the two markets.

Al Zeyoudi underlined the wider significance of the negotiations, stating, "Investing in our relationship with Egypt is crucial for both nations. A Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement will launch a new era of cooperation and collaboration, bringing mutual benefits and paving the way for increased trade, investment flows, and sustainable economic growth."

The UAE’s wider CEPA programme seeks to build stronger economic links with partners worldwide and support trade diversification; 31 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements have been signed so far and 14 are already in force, helping the UAE reach total trade of US$810 billion in 2024 and improve access to several high-growth international markets.

Egypt regards the UAE as a major trading counterpart within the GCC and broader Arab region, and officials expect that a finalised Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement would build on this position by simplifying trade procedures, encouraging more cross-border projects and reinforcing long-term economic cooperation that aligns with growth plans in both countries.

With inputs from WAM