UAE Trade Agreements Advance as Non-Oil Foreign Trade Nears AED2 Trillion
UAE trade agreements are expanding rapidly as the country finalises pacts and boosts logistics, helping non-oil foreign trade approach AED2 trillion in the first half of the year.
The UAE has reached 37 comprehensive economic partnership agreements to date, with 18 already in force and negotiations underway with roughly 20 additional countries, Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said. Several of those pacts are expected to enter into force within the next two to three months, reinforcing the UAE trade agreements strategy to diversify markets and strengthen supply chains.
Deals and Timelines for UAE Trade Agreements
Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi confirmed a new wave of agreements will come into effect soon, including pacts with Eurasian Group countries and an anticipated activation of the Philippines agreement before the end of the year.
Officials expect to complete negotiations with between five and seven more partners by year-end, reflecting an accelerated push to broaden the network of preferential trade relationships.
Negotiations with Canada are reported to be nearing completion, while rounds with several other countries have progressed to advanced stages. The government is prioritising swift implementation where possible to maximise the benefits of tariff reductions and market access.
Negotiations Closing with Key Partners
The UAE has entered late-stage discussions with Rwanda, Ghana and Zambia, according to the trade ministry, signalling a strategic focus on African markets.
Talks with Bangladesh and Peru have also made notable progress, while the seventh round of negotiations with the European Union concluded recently but is progressing at a slower pace than some bilateral talks.
This mix of regional and sectoral partners underlines the UAE’s ambition to build a diversified trade architecture that supports exporters and importers across multiple industries.
Logistics Integration Strengthens Trade Resilience
The minister highlighted the UAE’s integrated logistics system — linking airports, seaports and land transport — as a key factor that absorbed recent geopolitical shocks.
National logistics operators, port management companies and customs clearance firms have scaled operations to handle a surge in container volumes, while procedural updates eased internal truck movements and reduced bottlenecks.
These capabilities allowed the country to redirect freight flows and maintain supply chain continuity, preserving trade lanes and keeping goods moving despite higher insurance and logistics costs in some routes.
Port Projects and Alternative Trade Corridors
Major port operators announced projects to enhance rapid connections with eastern coast facilities and to expand overland transport capacity by growing truck fleets.
Abu Dhabi’s port group has increased capacity along a corridor linking Basra with Turkey and Syria, a project initiated last year that continues to deliver tangible improvements in throughput.
Officials say these alternative corridors provide reliable options for trade routes that may be affected by regional tensions, and they expect the new links to support rising commerce with Turkey and Syria in the coming period.
Trade Performance in the First Half
Non-oil foreign trade maintained robust momentum in the first half of the year, nearing AED2 trillion and recording year-on-year growth of approximately 13.1 percent.
Non-oil exports rose to about AED453 billion during the same period, an increase close to 24 percent that reflects stronger external demand and improved market access from recent trade agreements.
Ministry officials credited businesses for prioritising supply-chain continuity and goods availability over short-term profit maximisation, a strategy that supported trade volumes during volatile conditions.
Sector Gains and Strategic Goods Growth
Several strategic commodities posted notable gains, led by gold and followed by electronics, iron, copper and aluminium.
These increases were attributed to the combined effect of new trade agreements and enhanced logistics corridors that raised the competitiveness of UAE exports in multiple global markets.
The government continues to focus on port expansions, road and rail enhancements including the Etihad Rail network, and capacity upgrades that collectively aim to raise national throughput and close logistical gaps.
Looking ahead, UAE trade agreements and infrastructure projects are poised to deepen the country’s role as a global trade hub by expanding market access and strengthening resilience across supply chains.
Officials say the coming months will be decisive as additional agreements enter into force and as logistics investments continue to roll out, creating new opportunities for exporters and freight operators across the Emirates.