The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam has officially come into force, marking a major step forward in strengthening trade and investment ties between the two fast-growing economies.
The agreement is designed to remove trade barriers, reduce tariffs, and create a structured framework for deeper economic cooperation across key sectors. Its implementation comes as bilateral trade between the two nations continues to accelerate at a rapid pace.
Vietnam is currently the UAE’s largest trading partner in the ASEAN region. Non-oil trade between the two countries rose four percent in 2024 to reach $12.6 billion. In 2025, trade volumes surged to more than $16.05 billion, reflecting a 27.4 percent year-on-year increase.
With the CEPA now in effect, trade is expected to expand further as businesses benefit from improved market access and stronger opportunities for private sector collaboration. The agreement eliminates or significantly reduces tariffs on more than 90 percent of UAE exports to Vietnam, covering 99 percent of their total export value. Vietnam will also see reduced tariffs on 95 percent of its product categories exported to the UAE, representing 99 percent of the total import value.
Minister of Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said the agreement opens new avenues for collaboration and sustainable growth, particularly in sectors such as renewable energy, technology, and agriculture.
The UAE-Vietnam CEPA forms part of the UAE’s broader foreign trade strategy and supports its target of achieving AED4 trillion in non-oil trade by 2031. Since launching the CEPA programme in 2021, the UAE has concluded agreements with more than 30 countries, with 15 already in force, expanding access to markets representing nearly a quarter of the global population.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
