Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, the Minister of Foreign Trade, met with members of the Malaysian Business Council in the UAE to discuss the anticipated benefits of the comprehensive economic partnership agreement between the UAE and Malaysia, which is set to take effect soon.
The meeting also featured an exchange of perspectives and ideas on how to maximize the advantages of this agreement to meet the aspirations and ambitions of the business communities and the private sector in both nations.
The comprehensive economic partnership agreement with Malaysia aims to enhance the bilateral commercial and investment ties and provide a new platform for cooperation and partnership between the business communities of both countries, positioning Malaysia as a key partner for the UAE in the ASEAN region.
Dr. Al Zeyoudi emphasized the importance of leveraging the economic partnership agreement between the UAE and Malaysia to maximize benefits for the private sector. He stated, “This agreement provides better access to markets, lowered tariffs, and stimulates trade across various sectors, enabling UAE and Malaysian companies to achieve mutual growth.”
Al Zeyoudi highlighted Malaysia’s significant role as one of the UAE’s leading trade partners within the ASEAN region. He noted, “Given Malaysia’s strong export-based economy and its commitment to rules-based open trade, along with its extensive network of trade partners, which includes 16 free trade agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, we see great opportunities for collaboration and mutual prosperity.”
He urged companies to prepare for the implementation of the agreement, asserting, “Strengthening the connections between the private sectors of the UAE and Malaysia will unlock new avenues for investment and innovation in key sectors such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy, logistics, and healthcare, which are primed for joint cooperation.”
Non-Oil Trade
The non-oil foreign trade between the UAE and Malaysia has exhibited remarkable growth, reaching $5.5 billion in 2024, marking a 10.9% increase compared to 2023. In the first half of 2025, it recorded $3.3 billion, representing a 30.9% increase from the same period in 2024.
The UAE and Malaysia are committed to enhancing foreign direct investments in both economies, which will contribute to economic growth and solidify bilateral relations. This cooperation involves investments from leading UAE companies, such as Mubadala Energy and First Abu Dhabi Bank in Malaysia, coupled with successful Malaysian enterprises operating in the UAE, including GISB Holdings.
Achieving Prosperity
As the UAE strengthens its strategic partnerships in the ASEAN region, its collaboration with Malaysia presents a significant opportunity for mutual prosperity and economic growth. Thanks to the comprehensive economic partnership agreements the UAE has established with Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, the country’s non-oil foreign trade with ASEAN nations has significantly increased.
This trade reached $37.7 billion in 2024, which is a growth of 4.2% compared to 2023 and 16.8% from 2022. In 2024, ASEAN countries accounted for 4.6% of the UAE’s total non-oil trade globally and 11.3% of its trade with non-Arab Asian nations.