The UAE has discussed ways to strengthen economic ties, promote investment opportunities, and identify areas for further collaboration with the European Union.
A UAE delegation including Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and Ahmed Al Sayegh, Minister of State, has visited Brussels, Belgium, for meetings with senior European Union (EU) officials and members of the Belgian government.
The EU is the UAE’s second-largest global trade partner, with non-oil trade reaching $67.6 billion in 2024. This marks a 3.6 percent increase from 2023 and an 18.1 percent rise compared to 2022. The EU now represents 8.3 percent of the UAE’s total non-oil foreign trade.
During talks with Maros Sefcovic, EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Al Zeyoudi reviewed the key drivers behind the UAE’s strong trade relations with the EU, particularly in advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and eCommerce.
The two sides also identified opportunities for increased investment flows into high-growth sectors such as logistics and renewable energy.
Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade
“The European Union is a highly valued trade and investment partner for the UAE, with ties that continue to deepen across a range of sectors. This is evidenced not only by increasing trade exchanges but also through strategic collaboration in areas such as food security, energy transition, and advanced technology. Both sides believe there is significant potential to maintain the positive trajectory of bilateral trade and investment flows – both on an EU-wide level and with individual member nations. This week’s meetings have underlined the benefits of doing so.”
For his part, Ahmed Al Sayegh said that closer ties are essential to navigating a challenging global economy. The UAE has long recognized the importance of constructive dialogue, particularly on matters of trade and global supply chains.
“Both the UAE and the EU are committed to ensuring that trade remains open and accessible and this week’s meetings have enabled us to identify areas of collaboration that can preserve the free flow of goods and services between our economies. We look forward to building on these foundations and ensuring we can deliver prosperity for both our peoples,” Al Sayegh added.
Al Zeyoudi also participated in a roundtable discussion on UAE trade policy at the European Policy Centre (EPC) alongside Fabian Zuleeg, Chief Executive and Chief Economist of the EPC, where they discussed the imperative of preserving open, rules-based trade.
During the session, Dr Thani highlighted the extensive benefits of the UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) program, through which the UAE has concluded 27 deals to date. He also emphasized the opportunities for further collaboration between the UAE and the EU in key areas such as food security, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and artificial intelligence.
According to the reports, Al Sayegh and Al Zeyoudi held a bilateral meeting with Maria Luis Albuquerque, EU Commissioner for Financial Services and Financial Stability, to discuss the key role of the financial sector in facilitating global trade. The two sides highlighted ways to improve small businesses’ access to supply chains, reduce trade barriers, and enhance cross-border payments through financial technology solutions, including blockchain and decentralized finance.
