The UAE and Canada have successfully concluded negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), reflecting the strength and depth of their growing bilateral economic relationship.
Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, and Maninder Sidhu, Canadian Minister of International Trade, announced the successful conclusion on Al Zeyoudi’s visit to Canada, where he led a delegation of Emirati officials and business leaders.
The successful conclusion of negotiations marks the fastest agreement reached under the UAE’s CEPA program since its launch in September 2021, underscoring the strong political commitment and shared ambition of both countries to elevate their bilateral relationship through deeper trade, investment, and economic cooperation.
The CEPA is set to enhance the already significant bilateral trade, which reached approximately $4.2 billion in 2025, reflecting growth of 21 percent compared to the previous year. Upon ratification and entry into force, the CEPA will cut tariffs, eliminate bureaucratic hurdles, and expand market access for businesses in both the UAE and Canada.
By fostering collaboration in key sectors such as, aerospace, agri-food, and seafood, the CEPA is projected to facilitate billions of dollars in trade flows into major projects, including ports, mines, LNG facilities, data centers, and critical minerals.
Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi UAE Minister of Foreign Trade
“The successful conclusion of CEPA negotiations between the UAE and Canada reflects the depth of the strategic relationship between our two nations and our shared desire to build a stronger, more resilient, and more sustainable economic partnership. It also underscores the UAE’s capacity to translate high-level political commitment into tangible economic outcomes that support mutual growth and long-term prosperity. Through this agreement, we are opening new horizons for the business communities of both countries, expanding investment and collaboration opportunities across priority sectors including clean energy, advanced technology, data centers, agri-food, aviation, and critical minerals – sectors where our two economies are genuinely complementary and where the potential for long-term, mutually beneficial partnership is considerable.”
The CEPA complements the existing UAE-Canada Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA), which has already facilitated long-term partnerships between Canadian and UAE industries, attracting capital to major projects and creating jobs. This new agreement aims to further enhance these ties and support the private sectors in rapidly expanding their collaborative efforts.
For his part, Maninder Sidhu said that, “The conclusion of negotiations on a CEPA with the Emirates, which began last month, is the fastest negotiation ever completed by Canada, marking an important milestone in the growing relationship between our countries.”
“This agreement will unlock opportunities for Canadian businesses to utilize the UAE as a regional commercial hub to grow exports while encouraging investment from the UAE in projects that support our long-term economic goals. The CEPA reflects the strength of our partnership that will deliver lasting benefits for businesses, workers, and communities in both countries,” the Canadian Minister added.
