Other BriefingsUAE and Jordan Sign CEPA Agreement to Boost Trade Engagement
The UAE and Jordan have signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), marking a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties. The agreement was signed in Amman in the presence of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Jordan’s King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein at a ceremony held at Basman Palace.
This CEPA represents the UAE’s first partnership of its kind with an Arab nation, highlighting the deepening of strategic relations between the two countries. The agreement is expected to accelerate economic growth, create jobs, and bolster priority industries, including renewable energy, manufacturing, transport, pharmaceuticals, and food processing. The two leaders hailed the agreement as a crucial step toward further economic integration and sustainable development for both nations, with Sheikh Mohamed describing it as “a natural progression of UAE-Jordanian relations.”
In addition to the CEPA, a separate Administrative Cooperation Agreement on Customs Matters was also signed to enhance cooperation on customs and facilitate smoother trade between the two countries.
Bilateral trade between the UAE and Jordan has shown significant growth in recent years. Non-oil trade between the two nations reached US$4.2 billion in 2023, with an impressive 36.8 percent increase recorded in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period the previous year. Jordan ranks as the UAE’s third-largest Arab trade partner outside the GCC, while the UAE is Jordan’s leading foreign investor, with mutual investments amounting to US$22.5 billion.
The CEPA is a cornerstone of the UAE’s economic growth strategy, which seeks to reduce trade barriers, enhance market access, and stimulate private sector collaboration. By fostering closer economic ties with Jordan, the UAE aims to unlock new opportunities in key industries and contribute to regional economic prosperity. The agreement is expected to have far-reaching effects, promoting innovation and boosting supply chain resilience across the region.
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