UAE-South Korea CEPA officially entered into force

• The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the UAE and South Korea will build on non-oil bilateral trade that reached US$6.9 billion in 2025.
• HE Al Zeyoudi: "The entry into force of the UAE-South Korea CEPA marks an important milestone in our trade and economic relations with Asia. The agreement will support increased trade flows, create new market opportunities for exporters and strengthen investment and cooperation across priority sectors, including advanced technology, manufacturing and logistics. This agreement will also enhance supply-chain resilience and reinforce the UAE's position as a global trade hub."

Abu Dhabi, UAE – 30 April, 2026: The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the United Arab Emirates and South Korea has officially entered into force, marking a significant step forward in economic relations between the two countries. The agreement is set to unlock new trade and investment opportunities across a range of sectors and support deeper private-sector collaboration.

This partnership represents South Korea's first trade agreement with a country in the GCC and the wider Middle East and North Africa region. Under the agreement, tariffs will be eliminated or reduced on 91.2% of traded goods and services, creating new opportunities for exporters to access one of Asia's most dynamic markets. The CEPA will also remove unnecessary barriers to trade, enhance market access for services and provide a structured framework for investment and cooperation, particularly in future-oriented sectors such as technology, renewable energy and healthcare. Bilateral non-oil trade between the two countries reached US$6.9 billion in 2025, with the agreement expected to support further growth.

HE Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, welcomed the progress: "The entry into force of the the UAE-South Korea CEPA marks an important milestone in our trade and economic relations with Asia. The agreement will support increased trade flows, create new market opportunities for exporters and strengthen investment and cooperation across priority sectors, including advanced technology, manufacturing and logistics. This agreement will also enhance supply-chain resilience and reinforce the UAE's position as a global trade hub."

The UAE is South Korea's largest trading partner in the GCC, with a combined US$10 billion invested in each other's markets. There are many South Korean companies already established in the UAE, which offers substantial potential to create long-lasting, mutual beneficial opportunities between the two economies.

The UAE-South Korea CEPA is the latest of the 36 agreements finalized to date, further enhancing the UAE's trade flows and private sector collaboration with critical global markets.