RIYADH: The UAE and Japan have concluded negotiations on the final provisions of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, marking the first such accord Japan has signed with an Arab nation.
According to the Emirates News Agency, the deal is designed to deepen trade and investment ties, with priority sectors including advanced technology, logistics, cybersecurity, healthcare, and education.
The UAE has solidified its position as Japan’s top trading partner in the Middle East and Africa, accounting for 39 percent of Japan’s total trade with Arab and African countries, while non-oil trade between the countries reached $20.3 billion in 2025, an annual growth of 16.7 percent.
The announcement followed an official visit to Japan by Sultan bin Ahmed Al-Jaber, the UAE’s minister of industry and advanced technology and envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who was accompanied by Thani bin Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi, minister of foreign trade.
The pair met with Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan’s minister of foreign affairs, to finalize the agreement, which underscores the shared commitment of both nations to fortify their longstanding strategic relations.
Al-Jaber emphasized that the successful negotiations reflect “the leadership’s vision to strengthen economic and trade relations with Japan and underscores the depth of the strategic partnership between our two countries. It also highlights our shared commitment to promoting innovation, industrial development, and sustainable economic growth.”
The CEPA represents a significant milestone in bilateral relations, expected to enhance trade and investment flows while strengthening private sector cooperation.
Additionally, the agreement will open new avenues for partnership in research and development, innovation, smart mobility, energy security, financial services, and digital transformation.
These initiatives align with the UAE’s vision of building a knowledge-based economy and support the priorities outlined in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework established between the two countries in 2022.
Al-Jaber added that the deal would create new opportunities for cooperation in advanced industries and resilient supply chains, fostering greater investment and innovation within the private sectors of both nations.
Al-Zeyoudi also commended the outcome of the negotiations, noting the significance of partnering with a major global economy.
“The positive outcomes of our CEPA negotiations with Japan, one of the world’s largest economies and a key member of the G7, are a significant step forward in enhancing UAE-Japan relations,” he said.
Al-Zeyoudi noted that by removing trade barriers and facilitating increased investment flows, the CEPA “will unlock new avenues for our private sectors, fostering lasting partnerships that benefit both countries and contribute to our sustainability goals and shared prosperity.”
The agreement is a key component of the UAE’s broader foreign trade strategy.
Since the CEPA program was launched in September 2021, the UAE has concluded similar agreements with more than 35 high-growth economies, enhancing market access to regions representing nearly a quarter of the world’s population.
