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5/30/25, 4:39 PM UAE, EU advance free trade deal talks amid major investment announcements
Read: UAE companies line up to explore investment opportunities in new Al Rawdah Special
Economic Zone
UAE-EU CEPA to unlock major investments
“Europe continues to be a reliable trading partner, which respects the deals it makes. And it is
natural to seek to grow our relations with long-standing and trusted partners like the UAE. A
bilateral FTA would unlock tremendous business opportunities for European and Emirati businesses
alike,” stated Maroš Šefčovič.
Šefčovič added that the EU aims to reach an ambitious deal that is commercially meaningful on
both sides – one that brings tangible, lasting benefits, along with predictability, so essential to any
successful business. This would add strength to the regional cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation
Council countries.
During the investment roundtable, representatives from the UAE and the EU private sectors
engaged in discussions to identify mutual investment opportunities that can drive innovation and
sustainable economic development.
FDI flows between the UAE and the EU are strong and robust, with recent partnerships in data
centers in Italy, solar plants in Spain, and neighborhood redevelopment in Budapest. A UAE-EU
CEPA has the potential to unlock further opportunities, including a $50 billion AI data center deal
with France and a $40 billion commitment in Italy’s energy and defense sectors.
The CEPA program is a key pillar of the UAE’s foreign trade agenda, reflecting the nation’s
commitment to open, rules-based trade to drive economic growth and diversify its economy. By
enhancing access to global markets and establishing stronger trade and investment flows with
partners around the world, the CEPA program has contributed to a record non-oil trade of $816
billion in 2024, marking a 14.6 percent increase over 2023.
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