UAE grants Future Readiness seal to CEPA project advancing AI-driven trade partnerships
UAE awards Future Readiness seal to CEPA project as AI-driven Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements boost trade, exports and GDP growth targets to 2033.
The UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA) project has received the Future Readiness seal from the Government Development and Future Office, marking a milestone in the country’s trade modernization efforts. The recognition highlights the project’s use of advanced technology and artificial intelligence to build a proactive trade model that strengthens the UAE’s global competitiveness.
Award ceremony and official participation
The Future Readiness seal was presented at a ceremony attended by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, and Ahood bint Khalfan Al Rumi, Minister of State for Government Development and Future. The event showcased the CEPA team’s role in designing an AI-enabled framework for negotiating and implementing comprehensive trade pacts. Officials described the seal as recognition of the project’s strategic role in readying the UAE’s trade apparatus for future global shifts.
Quantified economic gains and 2033 targets
Government figures indicate the CEPA project is on course to contribute a cumulative 13 percent increase in real GDP by 2033, equivalent to about AED 245 billion. Between 2024 and 2033 the initiative is projected to add more than AED 735 billion to the UAE’s foreign trade value, including growth in exports to AED 390 billion and imports to AED 343 billion. These targets form part of the project’s measurable contribution to the national economy and long-term diversification goals.
Exports growth and global trade ranking improvements
The CEPA network helped raise exports to partner countries to AED 175.5 billion in 2025, representing annual growth of 18.2 percent and accounting for 21.6 percent of non-oil exports. Non-oil foreign trade reached AED 3.8 trillion in 2025, while total trade in goods and services amounted to USD 1.637 trillion the same year. Over five years the UAE improved its standing in goods exports from the 17th to the 9th position globally, reflecting the trade agreements’ tangible impact.
Expansion of strategic partnerships to 37 agreements
As of April 2026 the UAE had expanded its network to 37 comprehensive economic partnership, regional and trade agreements, broadening market access across key geographies. The CEPA project is framed as a national strategic initiative aligned with the “We the UAE 2031” vision and the National Foreign Trade Agenda. The enlarged agreement network aims to open new markets for priority sectors and to anchor the country as a global trade hub.
Technology and AI embedded in trade design
A central feature of the CEPA project is its integration of artificial intelligence, data analytics and real-time foresight to inform trade policy and partnership selection. The platform generates predictive analyses and scenario modelling to assess tariff policies, regulatory shifts, supply-chain vulnerabilities and market demand. This technology-driven approach supports faster, evidence-based decision making and helps pre-empt disruptions before they escalate into crises.
Sector focus and market opportunities
The CEPA model targets strategic sectors with high growth and export potential, including food industries, pharmaceuticals, metals, petrochemicals, logistics, finance, technology, renewable energy, tourism and the digital economy. By aligning agreements with sector-specific opportunities, the project seeks to accelerate export diversification and stimulate investment in high-value industries. The approach also emphasizes support for small and medium enterprises and emerging exporters to capture new demand.
Operational mechanisms and predictive tools
The project employs an “instant foresight” mechanism supported by strategic insights to monitor trade performance and emerging policy trends. AI tools are used to conduct feasibility studies, evaluate prospective partners and forecast market growth and product demand. These predictive models measure likely adoption by firms of different sizes and provide early warnings on supply-chain shifts, enabling proactive mitigation and resilience-building across trade corridors.
Officials underscore strategic vision and resilience
Ministry officials said the Future Readiness seal affirms the UAE’s strategic orientation toward a more open, competitive and adaptable economy. Leaders described the CEPA project as a vehicle for turning foreign trade into a principal engine of sustainable growth and diversification in the decades ahead. The endorsement from the Government Development and Future Office was presented as validation of the project’s capacity to deliver measurable economic outcomes and strengthen national preparedness.
The CEPA project’s combination of expanded partnership networks, clearly defined economic targets and AI-enabled policy tools positions it as a cornerstone of the UAE’s trade and economic strategy. As the initiative scales and new agreements come into force, authorities expect continued export growth, deeper global integration and stronger resilience against shifting geopolitical and supply-chain risks.