The United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Thailand have finished negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), representing an important achievement in their bilateral relations and setting the stage for enhanced trade and investment collaboration between two of the most vibrant economies in their regions.
The completion of negotiations was revealed in Bangkok at a meeting involving Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade; Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister of Thailand; and Suphajee Suthumpun, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce of Thailand, alongside Obaid Saeed Al Dhaheri, UAE Ambassador to Thailand.
Both parties talked about methods to enhance bilateral trade and investment relations and assessed chances to broaden collaboration and strengthen partnerships between each nation's business sectors.
Al Zeyoudi says, "The conclusion of negotiations on the UAE-Thailand CEPA embodies our shared commitment to building stronger economic bridges between Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Thailand is one of the most dynamic and diversified economies in the region, and this agreement will open new avenues for companies, investors and entrepreneurs in both countries to expand and access high-growth markets."
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He adds, "By reducing trade barriers, enhancing market access and stimulating investment flows, the CEPA will support our long-term economic objectives and generate new opportunities across a wide range of strategic sectors. It will also reinforce the UAE's position as a leading global hub for trade and investment, connecting markets across Asia, Africa and Europe."
PM Charnvirakul highlighted the significance of the CEPA in enhancing economic and trade ties between Thailand and the UAE, observing that the successful completion of talks shows both countries' dedication to ongoing collaboration and increasing cooperation for shared advantage. He stated that the accord will generate fresh prospects for the private sector and business communities in both nations, bolster partnerships and reciprocal investment, and aid economic development, while boosting the competitiveness of Emirati and Thai firms in one another's markets and throughout the broader region.
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Throughout the visit, Al Zeyoudi conducted multiple meetings with prominent Thai companies and organizations engaged in the trade, investment, industrial, and services sectors. Conversations centered on enhancing collaborations and mutual investments, leveraging the prospects that the CEPA will generate, and broadening the footprint of Emirati and Thai businesses in one another’s markets, fostering supply chain development, boosting trade and investment activities, and generating fresh growth prospects for the private sector.
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Upon being signed, ratified, and enacted, the UAE-Thailand CEPA is anticipated to boost trade volumes, reveal new investment prospects, and enhance private sector collaboration in key areas such as advanced manufacturing, logistics, food security, digital trade, renewable energy, and precious metals.
The end of discussions occurs alongside significant progress in trade between the two nations. Non-oil trade between the UAE and Thailand totaled US$12.3 billion in 2025, marking a 65.2 per cent rise from 2024, and maintained this growth trend in the first half of 2026, hitting US$10.2 billion, a 75.4 per cent increase compared to the same timeframe in 2025.
The CEPA initiative is a vital component of the UAE's international trade strategy, which seeks to boost non-oil foreign trade to $1.1 trillion (AED 4 trillion) by the year 2031.