UAE President, European Commission President agree to launch CEPA negotiations

Abu Dhabi: President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, have agreed to launch negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, during a phone conversation.

Sheikh Mohamed stressed that CEPA will open new paths of cooperation between the UAE and the European Union.

The EU is the UAE’s second-largest trading partner, accounting for 8.3 per cent of the UAE’s total non-oil trade. In 2024, non-oil trade between the UAE and EU reached $67.6 billion, representing 3.6 per cent growth compared to the previous year.

The UAE is also the EU’s largest export destination and investment partner in the Middle East and North Africa. By reducing tariffs and unnecessary trade barriers and improving market access for goods and services, the CEPA is expected to foster opportunities in key sectors such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and artificial intelligence, among others. 

On his X account, the UAE President said: “The UAE shares strong and longstanding ties with the European Union and its member states, and today we agreed to launch negotiations towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU. Through this agreement, we aim to deepen bilateral relations and promote economic growth for the benefit of our countries and peoples.”

On her X account,  Ursula von der Leyen wrote: “His Highness Mhamed Bin Zayed and I just decided to launch negotiations on an EU–UAE free trade agreement. This agreement will strengthen our bilateral relations and contribute to the prosperity of the broader region.