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3/20/25, 1:20 PM UAE, EU strengthen relations as bilateral non-oil trade reaches $67.6 billion
UAE, EU strengthen relations as bilateral non-oil trade reaches $67.6 billion
Bilateral non-oil trade between the UAE and Belgium reached $4.7 billion in 2024

Currently, the EU accounts for 8.3 percent of the UAE’s total non-oil foreign trade.
Published: Wed 19 Mar 2025, 4:59 PM
A UAE delegation comprising Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, minister of State for Foreign
Trade, and Ahmed Al Sayegh, minister of State, has traveled to Brussels, Belgium, for discussions
with high-ranking European Union (EU) officials and members of the Belgian government. The
visit seeks to enhance economic ties, promote investment opportunities, and identify areas for
further collaboration.
The EU stands as the UAE’s second-largest global trade partner, with a shared non-oil trade value of
$67.6 billion in 2024, marking a 3.6 percent increase from 2023 and an 18.1 percent rise compared
to 2022. Currently, the EU accounts for 8.3 percent of the UAE’s total non-oil foreign trade.

Talks with EU officials
During discussions with Maros Sefcovic, EU commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Al
Zeyoudi examined the critical factors driving the UAE’s robust trade relations with the EU,
particularly in advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and e-commerce. Both parties also pinpointed
opportunities for boosting investment flows into high-growth sectors, notably logistics and
renewable energy.
Strengthening economic and business relations
Emphasizing the profound economic and business connections between the UAE and the European
Union, Al Zeyoudi remarked: “The European Union is a highly valued trade and investment partner
for the UAE, with ties that continue to deepen across a range of sectors. This is evidenced not only

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