CEPA Connect 18 November 2025

How the UAE-Australia CEPA will open new avenues for trade, healthcare, green innovation

CEPA Connect convened senior officials and business leaders to explore how the UAE-Australia CEPA is set to boost trade, education, healthcare, and sustainable energy collaboration between the two nations

Dubai Unified Licence cuts business bank account opening time by 90%

Dubai Unified Licence cuts business bank account opening time by 90%

More than 3,000 new business bank accounts opened through Dubai Unified Licence and more than 134,000 business profiles updated

New framework enables over 10,000 free zone companies to operate in mainland through structured permits, providing seamless access to government tenders and contracts

Dubai’s new free zone mainland operating permit: Here’s what you need to know

The new framework enables over 10,000 free zone companies to operate in mainland through structured permit

India and UAE deepen economic partnership with CEPA driving record trade

During the meeting, UIBC-UC launched its latest research paper, Strength in Synergy: Unlocking India-UAE CEPA Global Potential

AI and global trade WTO report shows impact Image for illustrative purposes By Getty Images

AI could lift global trade flows by nearly 40% by 2040, WTO says

The report highlights that trade can be a powerful enabler of AI-supported growth by helping economies access AI-enabling goods such as raw materials, semiconductors and intermediate inputs

Saudi Arabia crude exports rise to six-month high in August

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports rise 17.8% in Q2 2025

Chemical products and machinery were the top non-oil exports and imports, respectively, with China continuing to be the primary trading partner in Q2 2025.

UAE-Angola ink CEPA image courtesy WAM

UAE, Angola sign CEPA to boost trade and investment

UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi has said the agreement will raise non-oil bilateral trade to more than $10bn annually by 2033

Dubai Chamber of commerce Image-Dubai Media Office

Dubai Chamber of Commerce reports 4% rise in new members, trade value up 18% in H1

The chamber supported the expansion of 60 local companies into new overseas markets during H1 2025

UAE, Russia ink trade in services and investment agreement

UAE, Russia ink trade in services and investment agreement

The deal comes as part of the UAE’s CEPA programme, which aims to raise non-oil foreign trade to Dhs4.04tn by 2031

Abu Dhabi Chamber

Abu Dhabi Chamber marks a year of transformation following board restructure

To support policy advocacy and reform, 15 working groups were established, while the chamber published 364 economic reports to inform decision-making across industries

Trump tariff

Trump expands tariffs: See the full list of targeted countries

All countries not specifically listed in the annex will face a flat 10% duty increase

UAE non oil foreign trade in H1 2025 achieves record nos Image-for-illustrative-purposes-image-courtesy-wAM

UAE non-oil foreign trade crosses Dhs1.7tn in H1 2025

The US ranked sixth among the UAE’s top 10 trading partners with a 29 per cent growth, and France entered the top 10 list for the first time

Global central banks to increase gold reserves

DGCX sees strong H1 2025 growth with surge in gold and INR futures trading

DGCX plays a vital role in Dubai’s status as a leading global gold trading hub

UAE and Azerbaijan sign CEPA to boost trade, investment ties

UAE and Azerbaijan sign CEPA to boost trade, investment ties

The UAE is currently the leading Arab investor in Azerbaijan, with total investments exceeding $1bn

ADX sees 99.5% surge in foreign net investment in H1

ADX sees 99.5% surge in foreign net investment in H1

The total trading value also experienced a notable increase of 33.5 per cent, rising from Dhs134.4bn to approximately Dhs179.5bn

Gold tops $4,300, set for biggest weekly surge since 2008

Iran-Israel tension: Gold rises on Middle East tension

Spot gold was up 0.1 per cent at $3,371.15 an ounce, as of 0526 GMT. US gold futures fell 0.6 per cent to $3,388.60

UAE-Kuwait sign MoUs Image WAM

UAE, Kuwait ink multiple agreements, includes Dhs9bn naval contract

The agreements span a wide range of areas, with key MoUs covering healthcare, infrastructure, investment, social development, energy transition, and AI

World gold council and DMCC sign agreement to advance UAE's gold sector Image Getty Images

Gold set for worst drop in six months: Find out why

Bullion has lost 3.3 per cent so far this week and is set for its worst weekly performance since November 2024

Jafza marks 40 years. image courtesy Dubai Media Office Jafza

Dubai: Jafza marks 40 years, reports Dhs713bn in non-oil trade in 2024

DP World has since replicated Jafza’s model across 11 zones globally, including in the UK, India, Dominican Republic, and Somaliland

DMCC launches SPV and holding company licences

DMCC launches SPV and holding company licences

New licensing categories offer greater flexibility for asset management, investment holding and regional oversight

Global trade set for mild contraction in 2025, reveals WTO report

Global trade set for mild contraction in 2025, reveals WTO report

Economic uncertainty and weakened goods trade are expected to reduce demand for transport and intermediate services in 2025

UAE foreign trade crosses dhs5trillion in 2024 shows WTO report -image-for-illustrative-purposes-Photo-courtesy-WAM

In numbers: UAE foreign trade soars Dhs5.23tn in 2024

The UAE ranked 11th globally in merchandise exports and 13th in services exports last year

IMF’s Kristalina Georgieva urges nations to rebalance for resilience

IMF’s Kristalina Georgieva urges nations to rebalance for resilience

Georgieva emphasised the need for rebalancing policies — fiscal, monetary, and structural — that reduce vulnerabilities and mitigate trade frictions

UAE, Ireland sign MoU to enhance economic, tech cooperation

UAE, Ireland ink MoU to enhance economic, tech cooperation

Non-oil trade between the UAE and Ireland reached $1.1bn in 2024, up from $694m in 2019

UAE EU trade talks Middle east

EU, UAE eye closer trade ties as CEPA talks set to begin

The talks will focus on trade in goods, services, investment and deepening cooperation in strategic sectors

UAE, Republic of Congo sign CEPA to advance ties

UAE, Republic of Congo sign CEPA to advance ties

Under the agreement, tariffs will be eliminated over five years on 99.5 per cent of UAE export lines and 98 per cent of Republic of the Congo export lines

HH Sheikh Hamdan meets with Indian PM Narendra Modi

UAE-India ties: Sheikh Hamdan meets PM Narendra Modi during state visit

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, and UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, is on his first official visit to India

Abu Dhabi's non-oil foreign trade in 2024 touches Dhs306bn

Abu Dhabi’s non-oil foreign trade touches Dhs306bn in 2024

Non-oil exports surged 16 per cent year-on-year to Dhs107.8bn in 2024, compared to Dhs93bn in the previous year

How will Trump’s reciprocal tariffs impact Indian exports?

The United States imposes a 2.5 per cent tariff on passenger vehicle imports, while India imposes 70 per cent, the White House said in a statement

UAE has inked 26 agreements as part of its CEPA programme -Image-courtesy-WAM

CEPA programme: UAE global trade ties grow with 26 strategic alliances

The CEPA programme is playing a pivotal role in the UAE’s broader economic strategy, accelerating progress toward the ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision