The United Arab Emirates and Thailand have concluded negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), opening a new phase of bilateral trade and investment cooperation, reports Emirates News Agency (WAM), a partner of TV BRICS.
The announcement was made in Bangkok during a meeting between UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
The agreement is designed to reduce trade barriers, expand market access and encourage investment between the two countries. Once signed, ratified and brought into force, it is expected to create opportunities in advanced manufacturing, logistics, food security, digital trade, renewable energy and precious metals.
Al Zeyoudi highlighted the role of the agreement in strengthening economic links between Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Prime Minister Charnvirakul said the CEPA would deepen economic relations, support two-way investment and strengthen the competitiveness of businesses in both countries and wider regional markets.
Bilateral trade has recorded strong growth. Non-oil trade between the UAE and Thailand reached US$12.3 billion in 2025, increasing by 65.2 per cent from the previous year. In the first half of 2026, the figure rose to US$10.2 billion, up 75.4 per cent compared with the same period in 2025. UAE non-oil exports to Thailand totalled US$4.5 billion in 2025, while imports reached US$7.2 billion.
The two countries will now complete the legal and technical procedures required for the agreement’s signing and entry into force. The CEPA forms part of the UAE’s foreign trade strategy, which aims to increase non-oil foreign trade to US$1.1 trillion by 2031.