Page 870 - MOET ENGLISH PR REPORT - JUNE 2025

6/10/25, 11:41 AM UAE-Serbia trade to accelerate as Cepa comes into effect | The National

The UAE's non-oil foreign trade hit a record Dh3 trillion last year − up 14.6 per cent year-on-year − as
the country continues to diversify its economy and forges closer trade ties with countries around the

world.

The Cepa programme is key for the UAE’s economic growth. The Arab world's second largest

economy aims to boost its gross domestic product to $800 billion by 2030, with a target of more than
$1.1 trillion in total non-oil trade by 2031.

Overall, the UAE has concluded 27 deals as part of the Cepa initiative. In 2025 alone, and counting
Serbia's, the UAE has signed seven new deals with Malaysia, New Zealand, Kenya, Ukraine, Central

African Republic, Costa Rica and Mauritius.

The UAE and the EU are also in discussions for a Cepa, with both sides moving closer to an

agreement, Maros Sefcovic, EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, told The
National this week.

The UAE's Cepa with Serbia is projected to further boost non-oil trade between the two countries,
which hit about $121.4 million in 2024, twice that compared to 2021 levels, according to government

data.

Serbia is positioned as a key partner for the UAE, with its diverse economy and strategic location

providing a vital gateway into Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
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