UAE’s trade deals with Costa Rica and Mauritius come into effect

Two of the UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs)—with Costa Rica and Mauritius—have officially come into force, aiming to boost trade and investment with Central America and Africa, according to the Emirates News Agency.

The agreements will reduce tariffs on a wide range of goods, streamline customs procedures, and promote investment in sectors such as food security, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing, reported WAM.

These are the seventh and eighth CEPAs to be implemented since the programme launched in 2021. They follow similar agreements with India, Israel, Türkiye, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Georgia. The UAE has signed 27 CEPAs to date, with 12 more awaiting ratification, according to WAM.

According to Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the new CEPAs are part of the UAE’s broader goal to strengthen ties with emerging economies and expand its non-oil trade network. He noted that non-oil foreign trade reached a record $817 billion in 2024, up 14.6% from 2023.

Key figures:

• UAE–Costa Rica CEPA (signed April 2024):
  • UAE exports: 99.8% to benefit from zero or reduced tariffs
  • 2024 non-oil trade: $82.6 million (up 27.5% YoY)
  • UAE investment in Central America: approx. $673 million
• UAE–Mauritius CEPA:
  • Non-oil trade expected to rise from $209.8 million to $500 million in 5 years
  • UAE exports to Mauritius: Over 97% to enjoy tariff cuts within 5 years

These latest deals support the UAE’s goal to raise total foreign trade to AED4 trillion ($1.1 trillion) by 2031 and expand market access to over a quarter of the global population.