UAE, Canada Sign Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to Boost Bilateral Ties
Ottawa, The Gulf Observer: Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney held official talks in Ottawa to review bilateral relations and explore new avenues for strengthening cooperation across trade, investment, technology, defence, energy and other strategic sectors.
According to media reports, the talks took place at Parliament Hill, where Prime Minister Carney received Sheikh Khaled upon his arrival for an official visit to Canada.
During the visit, the Crown Prince signed the Distinguished Visitors Books at Parliament Hill, expressing pride in the close relations between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Canada. He voiced hope that the visit would open new avenues for bilateral cooperation, advance the shared interests of both countries and fulfil the aspirations of their peoples.
At the outset of the meeting, Prime Minister Carney welcomed Sheikh Khaled and the accompanying delegation, reaffirming the strength of Canada-UAE relations and his country’s commitment to expanding cooperation and developing partnerships in sectors aligned with the development and economic priorities of both nations.
Sheikh Khaled conveyed the greetings of UAE President H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to the Canadian prime minister, along with his wishes for Carney’s continued health and happiness and for Canada’s continued progress and prosperity.
In return, Prime Minister Carney asked Sheikh Khaled to convey his greetings and best wishes to the UAE President, expressing hopes for his continued well-being and further development and prosperity for the UAE and its people.
The discussions focused on expanding economic and investment partnerships and identifying opportunities to leverage the strengths, expertise and capabilities of both countries to achieve shared development objectives.
Key areas of cooperation included trade and investment, artificial intelligence and advanced technology, defence, clean energy, mining, infrastructure and logistics, aviation and space, food security and other sectors of mutual interest.
Sheikh Khaled reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to further strengthening relations with Canada and establishing long-term strategic partnerships that support the development priorities of both countries and enhance their economic competitiveness.
He underscored the importance of strengthening ties between Emirati and Canadian institutions and businesses, building on existing progress and developing joint projects in priority sectors to generate sustainable economic value for both nations.
The two sides also discussed ways to strengthen connections between their business communities, encourage reciprocal investment and expand collaboration between relevant institutions on initiatives and projects with tangible economic and developmental benefits.
On regional and international developments, Sheikh Khaled and Prime Minister Carney exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, emphasising the importance of dialogue, diplomatic solutions and coordinated efforts to promote peace, security and stability at regional and international levels.
Following the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of three agreements and memorandums of understanding, alongside the UAE-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The agreements aim to expand cooperation in shared priority sectors, including defence, renewable energy and diplomatic training, while advancing the strategic interests and development ambitions of both countries.
In a significant development highlighting the growing economic relationship, it was announced during the visit that Emirati companies were engaged in trade and investment negotiations with Canadian counterparts worth up to C$21.1 billion (approximately US$15 billion).
The negotiations are being conducted under a C$70 billion (approximately US$50 billion) investment framework announced during Prime Minister Carney’s visit to the UAE in November 2025.
The proposed investments cover four strategic sectors: mining, logistics, energy and investment in sovereign wealth funds. The discussions reflect progress in implementing the investment framework and translating the shared ambitions of both countries into concrete partnerships and high-quality projects.
These initiatives are expected to support sustainable economic growth and strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations over the long term.
The meeting was attended by Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court; Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation; Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNOC; Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade; Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment; and Mohamed bin Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Defence Affairs.
Other attendees included Eng. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, the UAE Foreign Minister’s Envoy to Canada and Chairman of Dubai Chambers; Ghanem Sultan Alsuwaidi, Advisor of Security Affairs at the Crown Prince Court; Saif Saeed Ghobash, Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Office of the Crown Prince; Maryam Eid AlMheiri, Chairperson of Abu Dhabi Media Office and Advisor of Strategic Relations at the Crown Prince Court; Abdulrahman Ali Almur Al Neyadi, UAE Ambassador to Canada; and Hamad Salem Al Ketbi, Director-General of Crown Prince’s Protocol at the Crown Prince Court, alongside several Canadian ministers and senior officials.
