RIYADH: The UAE and Japan have concluded negotiations on the final provisions of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, marking the first such accord Japan has signed with an Arab nation.
According to the Emirates News Agency, the deal is designed to deepen trade and investment ties, with priority sectors including advanced technology, logistics, cybersecurity, healthcare, and education.
The UAE has solidified its position as Japan’s top trading partner in the Middle East and Africa, accounting for 39 percent of Japan’s total trade with Arab and African countries, while non-oil trade between the countries reached $20.3 billion in 2025, an annual growth of 16.7 percent.
The announcement followed an official visit to Japan by Sultan bin Ahmed Al-Jaber, the UAE’s minister of industry and advanced technology and envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who was accompanied by Thani bin Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi, minister of foreign trade.
The pair met with Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan’s minister of foreign affairs, to finalize the agreement, which underscores the shared commitment of both nations to fortify their longstanding strategic relations.
