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The United Arab Emirates signed a new trade agreement with South Korea the day after it left OPEC, cutting tariffs on most traded goods, seeking an increase in trade exchanges and cementing economic ties between the two countries, as part of a wider push by the Gulf states towards Asia.<\/p>\n
The agreement marks South Korea\u2019s first trade pact with a country in the Gulf Cooperation Council and the wider Middle East and North Africa region, at a time when supply chains and wider geopolitical dynamics are reshaping global trade.<\/p>\n
The so-called Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the UAE and South Korea eliminates or reduces tariffs on 91.2% of goods traded between the two countries, easing access to each other\u2019s markets and supporting trade and investment flows. Non-oil trade between the UAE and South Korea reached $6.9 billion (about \u20ac6.3bn) in 2025, with officials expecting further growth.<\/p>\n
UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said the agreement would create new opportunities for exporters and strengthen cooperation across sectors including technology, manufacturing and logistics.<\/p>\n
In parallel, Qatar is also strengthening its own economic ties with South Korea in a strong signal of Seoul’s push towards the Gulf and the wider Middle East.<\/p>\n
Over the last few days, Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed led a business delegation to Seoul for talks on trade and investment, including in sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing, both at state level, but also with Korean companies.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n