Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the Minister of Foreign Trade, reaffirmed the UAE’s strong commitment to promoting rule-based open trade as a fundamental driver for sustainable long-term development across nations worldwide. This statement was made during his leadership of the UAE delegation at the G20 Trade and Investment Ministers’ meeting in Gqeberha, South Africa. The UAE is a reliable partner for the largest economies globally, particularly the G20 nations, with non-oil foreign trade exceeding $231.6 billion in the first half of 2025, marking a 19.2% increase compared to the same period in 2024, and a 3% rise over the second half of that year, demonstrating the ongoing growth of UAE-European trade flows that began several years ago.
During the meeting, Al Zeyoudi highlighted the UAE’s persistent efforts in advocating for collaborative solutions to the challenges currently facing global trade, which include the need to enhance and modernize supply chains, improve access to the global trading system, and ensure its fairness.
The G20 Trade and Investment Ministers’ meeting serves as a primary dialogue platform where member states discuss trade and investment issues, which will form the basis for discussions at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in November. The UAE participated in this meeting as a guest, invited by South Africa during its current presidency of the G20.
Al Zeyoudi led the UAE delegation in multiple sessions focusing on the role of manufacturing in achieving sustainable development, the principles of trade and inclusive growth, and the ongoing need for reform within the World Trade Organization. He emphasized the importance of coordinating efforts and outcomes among various international organizations to ensure a balanced global trading system. He stated, “The UAE is committed to continuing to adopt policies that keep supply chains open and accessible to all nations, maintaining trade’s role as a key driver for long-term development and growth.”
A recent international report on investment, published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), underscored the significance of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements program that the UAE is actively pursuing as a model to boost trade and facilitate investment in essential sectors worldwide, including clean energy, digital transformation, and public health. The report, commissioned by South Africa as part of its G20 presidency, highlighted the partnerships established by the UAE with India, Australia, Turkey, and New Zealand as exemplary practices showcasing the role of trade agreements in enhancing constructive international cooperation and promoting sustainable economic growth.
Since launching the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements program at the end of 2021, the UAE has signed 31 trade agreements with nations possessing promising economies in various significant growth regions around the globe. Al Zeyoudi noted that the nation has initiated talks for comprehensive economic partnership agreements with at least ten African countries, many of which are underway. Additionally, he emphasized the UAE’s commitment to invest over $16.8 billion in renewable energy across 70 countries.
Side Meetings
On the sidelines of the meeting, Al Zeyoudi held bilateral meetings that included discussions with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala regarding the current state of global trade, as well as prominent officials such as Yoo Han-koo, Korea’s Minister of Trade, and Hidesuke Fuji, Japan’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Other discussions involved Maroš Šefčovič, the EU Trade Commissioner, Mary Ng, Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, and Economic Development, and Zulkifli Hasan, Indonesia’s Minister of Trade, among others.
The G20 countries account for 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of the world’s population, playing a crucial role in shaping the global economic landscape. By the end of 2024, the total value of the UAE’s non-oil foreign trade is expected to exceed $816.9 billion, reflecting a 14.6% increase compared to 2023, nearly five times the global trade growth rate.