August 24, 2026
By Yinka Kolawole
Bilateral trade between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) rose by 66.7 percent to about $5 billion in 2025 from $3 billion in 2024, highlighting growing economic ties between both countries as they move towards formalising a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
The development was disclosed when the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Alshamsi, paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.
In a statement issued by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alshamsi said the UAE had already ratified the trade agreement and expressed optimism that Nigeria’s completion of its domestic ratification process would further unlock investment opportunities.
