UAE and Benin Forge Stronger Economic Ties with New Partnership Agreement

The United Arab Emirates and Benin have officially inked a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), heralding a new era of enhanced trade and investment between the two nations. The pivotal signing ceremony took place in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, with President Sheikh Mohamed and Benin's President Romuald Wadagni presiding over the event. The agreement was executed by UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, and Benin's Minister of Tourism and Foreign Trade, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari.

Once ratified, this landmark deal is set to significantly boost economic activity by reducing or eliminating customs duties on a broad spectrum of goods. It will also dismantle existing trade barriers and improve market access for service providers and investors, fostering a more conducive environment for business growth.

This agreement arrives amidst a backdrop of robustly expanding bilateral relations. Non-oil trade between the UAE and Benin demonstrated remarkable growth, reaching $2.15 billion in 2025. This figure represents a substantial 65 percent increase compared to 2024 and more than doubles the $1.01 billion recorded in 2021. The trade momentum has carried forward into 2026, with bilateral non-oil trade hitting $1.29 billion in the first half of the year, marking a 37.4 percent year-on-year rise.

President Sheikh Mohamed described the agreement as a "significant milestone" in bilateral relations, emphasizing its reflection of a "common ambition to achieve long-term development aims, create new opportunities for our business communities, strengthen economic resilience, and contribute to prosperity and stability in our regions." President Wadagni echoed these sentiments, underscoring the agreement's crucial role in advancing shared sustainable development objectives.