UAE and Malaysia Sign Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to Boost Trade and Investment

UAE, 15 January, 2025 : The UAE and Malaysia have signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to strengthen trade and investment ties, witnessed by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The agreement, signed at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) by UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Zafrul Aziz, aims to accelerate bilateral trade, promote private sector collaboration, and unlock new investment opportunities.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed highlighted the significance of Malaysia as a key partner in Southeast Asia and the agreement’s potential to enhance cooperation in vital sectors, improve supply chains, and support private sector growth.

The CEPA will reduce tariffs, streamline trade procedures, and improve market access for services. In 2023, non-oil bilateral trade between the two nations reached $4.9 billion, with the UAE serving as Malaysia’s second-largest trade partner in the Arab world.

The agreement will further establish the UAE as a hub for Malaysian exports to the Middle East and expand ASEAN market access for UAE investors. The UAE’s CEPA programme is a key component of its goal to reach $1.1 trillion in non-oil foreign trade by 2031.