UAE and Canada finalize Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

The United Arab Emirates has finalized a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Canada, aimed at reducing trade barriers for goods, services, and investments. The agreement follows a previous commitment from the UAE to invest $50 billion in Canada, with expected focus areas including liquefied natural gas, ports, mining, and artificial intelligence.

Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, described the deal as a “historic” and “long-term” partnership. Canadian International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu noted that the agreement provides necessary certainty for investors. Bilateral trade between the two nations was valued at $2.48 billion in 2025, with Canadian exports seeing a 10 percent year-on-year increase.

The deal marks the UAE's 38th CEPA since the program's launch in 2021. This expansion is part of a broader strategy to diversify the UAE's economy and strengthen its position as a global trade hub. During the first half of 2026, the UAE reported record non-oil foreign trade reaching AED 1.937 trillion.