UAE and Canada Sign Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to Boost Trade and Investment
Ottawa, The Gulf Observer: His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney witnessed the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Canada, marking a new phase in bilateral economic relations.
The agreement was signed during the official visit of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi to Canada and establishes a comprehensive framework to strengthen trade and investment flows between the two countries.
Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, signed the agreement on behalf of the UAE, while Maninder Sidhu, Canada’s Minister of International Trade, signed on behalf of Canada. The ceremony was attended by ministers, senior officials, and business and trade leaders from both countries.
Sheikh Khaled said the agreement reflected the strength of UAE-Canada relations and their shared commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation. He reaffirmed the UAE’s determination to work with Canada towards building a long-term economic partnership that facilitates trade and investment while creating new opportunities for private-sector growth and innovation.
He also underscored the importance of the agreement in expanding mutual trade, strengthening investment and opening new avenues for cooperation in priority sectors. These efforts, he said, would help diversify economic opportunities, enhance the competitiveness of both economies and advance their shared interests.
The CEPA provides for reducing or eliminating tariffs on a wide range of goods, improving market access, streamlining customs procedures, facilitating trade in services and enhancing the investment environment. It is also expected to create new opportunities for cooperation between the business communities of the two countries, following the completion of ratification procedures and the agreement’s entry into force.
The signing comes amid growing momentum in UAE-Canada economic relations. Bilateral non-oil trade reached C$5.9 billion, equivalent to approximately US$4.2 billion, in 2025, registering growth of 21 percent compared with 2024 and 19 percent compared with 2023.
During the first half of 2026, bilateral non-oil trade amounted to approximately C$2.85 billion, or US$2.03 billion, representing an increase of 19 percent compared with the corresponding period in 2025.
Canada is the UAE’s third-largest trading partner in the Americas, while the UAE is Canada’s largest Arab trading partner.
The agreement further strengthens the strategic economic relationship between the two countries and complements the UAE-Canada investment framework, valued at up to C$70 billion, equivalent to US$50 billion. The framework was announced during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to the UAE in November 2025.
The investment framework aims to accelerate bilateral cooperation across key sectors, including clean energy, mining, artificial intelligence, agri-food, aviation, space and infrastructure.
The CEPA is expected to generate significant opportunities for exporters, investors and entrepreneurs in both markets, improve supply chain resilience and strengthen commercial connectivity among North America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
It is also expected to provide businesses with greater certainty and stability, alongside improved access to the two economies, which offer opportunities for trade, investment and innovation.
The agreement forms part of the UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements programme, a key pillar of the country’s foreign trade strategy. Launched in September 2021, the programme aims to expand the UAE’s network of international trading partners and promote open, rules-based trade.
Through this initiative, the UAE seeks to support economic growth and diversification, strengthen international commercial relations and create new opportunities for private-sector institutions and companies to expand into promising global markets.
