UAE and Benin Presidents Seal Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

The accord marks a new phase in trade and investment ties, designed to increase bilateral flows, expand collaboration between business communities, and support mutual economic growth. Sheikh Mohamed described the agreement as a milestone that reflects a shared commitment to economic and development partnerships benefiting both countries.

“The relationship between the UAE and the Republic of Benin is founded on a shared belief in dialogue, partnership, and the role of international cooperation in advancing sustainable development,” Sheikh Mohamed said. “This agreement marks a significant milestone in our bilateral relations and reflects our common ambition to achieve long-term development aims, create new opportunities for our business communities, strengthen economic resilience, and contribute to prosperity and stability in our regions. We look forward to building on these foundations and expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest in the years ahead.”

Agreement exchanged in official ceremony

Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, and Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, Benin’s Minister of Tourism and Foreign Trade, in charge of Industry and Private Investment Promotion, exchanged the document on behalf of their governments.

President Wadagni welcomed the exchange, stressing the agreement’s role in advancing bilateral economic cooperation and shared sustainable development objectives.

Tariff reductions and market access

Once ratification is complete and the pact enters into force, the UAE-Benin CEPA will reduce or eliminate customs duties on a wide range of goods, remove unnecessary trade barriers, and improve market access for service providers and investors. These steps are expected to strengthen supply chains and boost trade and investment flows.

The agreement builds on strong momentum in trade relations. Bilateral non-oil trade reached $2.15 billion in 2025, a 65 percent increase from 2024 and more than double the $1.01 billion recorded in 2021. In the first half of 2026, non-oil trade amounted to $1.29 billion, a year-on-year rise of 37.4 percent.

Broader partnership network

The CEPA with Benin adds to the UAE’s expanding network of trade partnerships, reinforcing the countrys position as a global hub for trade, investment, and logistics. The CEPA programme, launched in September 2021, is a key pillar of the UAE’s foreign trade agenda, aimed at opening markets and creating opportunities in high-growth regions.

Additional agreements signed

Sheikh Mohamed and President Wadagni also witnessed the announcement of several memoranda of understanding and cooperation protocols. These include:

• Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations
• Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of a Joint Committee on Consular Affairs
• Memorandum of Understanding between the Anwar Gargash Diplomtic Academy and Benin’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Letter of Intent on Data Hosting and Information Systems
• Memorandum of Understanding on Workforce Cooperation and Cooperation Protocol on Domestic Workers
• Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Government Experience Exchange
• Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Investment Partnership

On the UAE side, the documents were exchanged by Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation; Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation; and Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment. For Benin, the exchanges were made by Corinne Amori Brunet, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Hugues Oscar Lokossou, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance, in charge of External Resource Mobilisation and Debt Management; Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, Minister of Tourism and Foreign Trade; and Mahuna Akplogan, Minister of Digital Transformation and Innovation, in charge of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy.