Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Egypt and UAE deepen economic ties with new partnership talks
Abu Dhabi - Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Badr Abdel Aty, met with the United Arab Emirates’ Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, as part of an official visit aimed at strengthening economic ties between the two nations.
The two ministers discussed progress on an anticipated Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), emphasizing their shared commitment to accelerate negotiations and finalize outstanding technical details. Minister Abdel Aty highlighted the agreement’s strategic importance, calling it a pivotal step toward launching a new phase of economic and trade integration between Egypt and the UAE.
The talks also explored promising opportunities to boost bilateral trade and ease access for exports. Both officials praised the ongoing momentum in economic cooperation, underscored by landmark investment projects such as the recent developments in Ras El Hekma and the Red Sea regions, which represent significant milestones in the countries’ evolving partnership.
Further discussions centered on enhancing the legislative and regulatory environment to support increased trade and on backing sustainable supply chain initiatives, vital for meeting global challenges in food security and logistics.
Minister Abdel Aty reiterated Egypt’s focus on facilitating trade and investment flows, including the removal of obstacles faced by investors and exporters. He highlighted Egypt’s comprehensive economic reform program, particularly the launch of its National Investment Strategy 2024–2030, which aims to double private sector participation in the economy and attract record levels of foreign direct investment.
The meeting also addressed prospects for trilateral cooperation in Africa, exploring joint efforts to support food security and essential needs in African countries. Minister Abdel Aty spoke about leveraging Egypt’s presence on the continent and incorporating Egyptian products into UAE-led aid mechanisms, aiming to maximize the impact and efficiency of joint investments.
The session concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to enhance technical and commercial consultations, intensify institutional communication, and accelerate finalization of bilateral agreements. The ministers expressed confidence that Cairo and Abu Dhabi are well-positioned to set a regional model for comprehensive economic collaboration.