The United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Ecuador have inked a landmark Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), setting a new benchmark for bilateral trade, investment, and strategic economic collaboration.
The agreement aims to reduce tariffs, remove barriers to trade, and expand collaboration across priority sectors, including clean energy, advanced technology, agriculture, mining, and logistics.
The signing of CEPA coincided with the visit of HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, to Quito, underscoring the UAE’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation and advancing trade diversification across South America.
Ecuador becomes the fourth Latin American country to sign a CEPA with the UAE, following Costa Rica, Chile, and Colombia, with similar negotiations underway with Peru.
Expanding strategic and investment partnerships
During the visit, HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed was received at Carondelet Palace with a formal ceremony, featuring the national anthems of the UAE and Ecuador.
The discussions highlighted avenues to deepen cooperation in key sectors while promoting mutual investments to support economic diversification and shared strategic interests.
As part of the visit, a cooperation agreement was signed between the UAE Ministry of Investment and Ecuador’s Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade, Investments, and Fisheries, aimed at exploring investment opportunities across sectors of mutual interest.
Image via WAM | Cropped by GBN
Additionally, EDGE Group and Ecuador’s Ministry of National Defense signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) under a joint program valued at $250 million, focusing on security infrastructure, advanced surveillance systems, and enhanced border protection capabilities.
The UAE Accountability Authority and Ecuador’s Council for Citizen Participation and Social Control also signed MoU to strengthen bilateral cooperation in combating corruption and promoting governance, integrity, and transparency within the public sector.
Strengthening trade and investment
The UAE is a key trading partner for Ecuador in the Arab region and Africa, with non-oil trade between the two nations reaching approximately $373.6 million in 2025, reflecting significant growth from previous years.
Development projects and cooperation agreements currently under discussion exceed $3 billion in total investment, highlighting the depth and scale of the UAE-Ecuador partnership.
HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed conveyed the greetings of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to President Noboa, wishing him good health and the continued prosperity of Ecuador.
