UAE-EAEU Economic Partnership Agreement Enters Into Force
UAE-EAEU Economic Partnership Agreement Enters Into Force
Umer Jamshaid
Published October 06, 2026 | 11:45 AM
ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 06th Oct, 2026) The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the United Arab Emirates and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) officially entered into force on Tuesday, establishing a new preferential trade framework between the UAE and Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and the Russian Federation.
The agreement aims to accelerate merchandise trade by reducing or eliminating customs duties across a broad range of products, streamlining trade procedures, and addressing unnecessary barriers. It also provides modern rules for customs cooperation, e-commerce, economic cooperation, and the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in international trade.
Under the new trade regime, the UAE and EAEU countries will grant preferential access across more than 86 percent of tariff lines, covering approximately 96 percent of the value of the goods currently traded between the two sides. The agreement is expected to support an annual trade increase between the two markets to nearly $50 billion by 2032.
Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, stated:
“The entry into force of the UAE-EAEU Economic Partnership Agreement transforms strong commercial momentum into a practical platform for exporters, manufacturers, and supply-chain partners. By improving market access, simplifying customs procedures, and establishing clear, transparent rules, we are enabling businesses to move goods more efficiently and compete across a market spanning five important Eurasian economies.”
“The agreement reflects the UAE’s commitment to open, rules-based trade and building durable economic bridges with high-potential markets. It will strengthen supply-chain resilience, support food security, and create new opportunities for collaboration in manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, automotive products, technology, and precious metals.”
The EPA enters into force as trade between the two sides continues to expand. UAE-EAEU non-oil trade reached $33.6 billion in 2025, rising 16 percent from $29 billion in 2024 and surpassing four times its 2021 value. Imports from the EAEU totaled $17.8 billion in 2025, while re-exports reached $13.7 billion. In the first half of 2026, bilateral non-oil trade grew 6.2 percent year-on-year to $14.3 billion.
The agreement was signed in Minsk on 27th June 2025. Its implementation grants UAE merchandise exporters preferential access across the EAEU customs market and provides EAEU producers with an efficient gateway to the Middle East, Africa, and Asia through the UAE’s trade and logistics ecosystem.
The CEPA programme is a key pillar of the UAE’s foreign trade agenda and supports the national objective of increasing non-oil foreign trade to AED4 trillion ($1.1 trillion) by 2031. Since its launch in September 2021, the programme has expanded the UAE’s network of trade agreements.