Brussels: A UAE delegation led by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and Ahmed Al Sayegh, Minister of State, visited Brussels, Belgium, for discussions with senior European Union (EU) officials and the Belgian government. The meetings aimed to reinforce economic ties, promote investment opportunities, and explore further collaboration avenues.
According to Emirates News Agency, the EU is the UAE's second-largest global trade partner, with non-oil trade valued at $67.6 billion in 2024, marking a 3.6% increase from 2023 and an 18.1% rise from 2022. The EU accounts for 8.3% of the UAE's total non-oil foreign trade. During talks with Maros Sefcovic, EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Al Zeyoudi examined the key factors driving UAE-EU trade relations, particularly in advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and e-commerce. Both parties also identified opportunities to boost investment flows into sectors like logistics and renewable energy.
Highlighting the economic ties, Al Zeyoudi remarked that the EU is a valued trade and investment partner for the UAE, with collaborations in food security, energy transition, and advanced technology. He emphasized the potential to sustain the positive trajectory of bilateral trade and investment flows both on an EU-wide level and with individual member nations. The meetings underscored the benefits of strengthening these ties.
Ahmed Al Sayegh stressed the importance of closer ties in navigating the global economy. He noted that both the UAE and the EU are committed to maintaining open trade and have identified collaboration areas to ensure the free flow of goods and services. The UAE looks forward to building on these foundations to deliver prosperity.
Dr. Thani participated in a roundtable discussion on UAE trade policy at the European Policy Centre (EPC) with Fabian Zuleeg, EPC's Chief Executive and Chief Economist. They discussed preserving open, rules-based trade and the UAE's Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) program, which has concluded 27 deals. Opportunities for further collaboration in food security, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and artificial intelligence were also highlighted.
Additionally, Al Sayegh and Al Zeyoudi met with Maria Luis Albuquerque, EU Commissioner for Financial Services and Financial Stability, to discuss the financial sector's role in facilitating global trade. The discussions focused on improving small businesses' access to supply chains, reducing trade barriers, and enhancing cross-border payments through financial technology solutions such as blockchain and decentralized finance.
During their Brussels visit, the UAE delegation met with senior Belgian officials, including Maxime Pr©vot, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Theo Francken, Minister of Foreign Trade, among others. Bilateral non-oil trade between the UAE and Belgium reached $4.7 billion in 2024, with both sides agreeing to explore further cooperation in energy, logistics, and manufacturing sectors.
The visit underscores the UAE's commitment to enhancing partnerships with all 27 EU member states, reinforcing its position as a global leader in trade and investment.
