UAE trade hits record $527bn with 38 new global deals

Brittany Rivera • 15/08/2026 • 2 min read

The UAE trade hits record $527bn with 38 new global deals, showcasing the nation’s rapid economic expansion and strategic global partnerships in 2026.

UAE trade hits record $527bn with 38 new global deals - uae trade record — UAE trade hits record $527bn with 38 new global deals

The UAE’s non-oil foreign trade reached a record AED1.937tn ($527.4bn) in the first half of 2026, driven by a rapid expansion of the country’s global economic partnership network. The total value of trade marks a significant increase for the region, reflecting the deepening integration of UAE markets with international partners.

38 Agreements Spanning Multiple Continents

The UAE has now signed 38 Full Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) since launching the programme in September 2021. These deals cover markets across Asia, Africa, Europe, and other regions. Trade with countries where CEPAs are already in force reached approximately AED304.3bn ($82.9bn) during the first six months of the year.

The expanding network is designed to give UAE companies improved market access, reduce customs duties and trade barriers, diversify export destinations and create new investment opportunities. The UAE-Gabon CEPA seeks to strengthen trade and private-sector cooperation and facilitate investment in areas including agriculture, logistics and renewable energy. The UAE-Republic of the Congo CEPA aims to build on growth in non-oil bilateral trade while creating opportunities for long-term partnerships and investment.

In East Africa, the UAE and Kenya have signed a CEPA aimed at strengthening trade and investment ties and improving market access between the Middle East and East Africa. The UAE-Ukraine CEPA entered into force on July 1, 2026, opening opportunities for trade, investment and private-sector cooperation between the two countries. The UAE-Serbia CEPA has also entered into force, providing for the liberalisation or reduction of tariffs across a significant share of tariff lines.

Trade with India and the Canada Deal

India was among the first countries to implement a CEPA with the UAE and has developed into a major example of the bilateral trade relationships covered by the programme. Non-oil trade between the UAE and India reached AED107.5bn ($29.3bn) during the first half of 2026. This figure highlights the increasing role of CEPA markets within the UAE’s wider international trade network.

The UAE’s network is continuing to expand. In July 2026, the UAE and Canada concluded negotiations on a CEPA in what the supplied information describes as the shortest timeframe recorded under the programme. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached approximately $4.2bn in 2025, representing growth of 21 per cent compared with 2024. The Canada negotiations add another major international market to the UAE’s expanding trade partnership strategy.

The UAE non-oil exports reached approximately AED452.8bn ($123.3bn) during the first half of 2026. Trade with countries where CEPAs have entered into force stood at approximately AED304.3bn ($82.9bn), while UAE exports to those markets reached around AED66.1bn ($18bn). The programme has expanded significantly since its launch in September 2021, with 38 agreements now signed and an increasing number entering into force. The CEPA programme spans established and emerging markets as the UAE seeks to diversify its international trading relationships.