Minister of Foreign Trade H.E. Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi Accelerates Trade Agenda
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(L to R) U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council President Danny Sebright and U.A.E. Minister of Foreign Trade H.E. Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi

The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council hosted a private discussion with H.E. Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, new U.A.E. Minister of Foreign Trade, on Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025 at Bank of America’s headquarters in Midtown Manhattan, New York. This conversation on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly’s annual meetings brought together 60 senior executives from leading U.S. companies to hear directly from His Excellency about U.A.E. trade priorities.

H.E. Dr. Al Zeyoudi underscored the role of the newly established Ministry of Foreign Trade in strengthening the U.A.E.’s position as a global trade hub and in further diversifying its economy. He highlighted the country’s growing network of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs), which are creating new market access opportunities and expanding the U.A.E.’s position as a gateway for U.S. and other companies into high-growth third markets.

Highlights of the discussion included:

  • The U.A.E.’s 10-year $1.4 trillion investment commitment to the United States and other examples of bilateral investment remain key to the U.A.E.’s diversification. Important investments include Project Stargate, Microsoft’s $1.5 billion investment into G42, ADQ’s joint venture with Energy Capital Partners, and Emirates Global Aluminum’s (EGA) plans to construct a new aluminum smelter in the U.S.
  • The new Ministry of Foreign Trade will continue to aggressively pursue CEPAs with new countries while also focusing on enhancing supply chains, particularly with critical minerals, and being accessible to the private sector as companies look to manufacture and export from the U.A.E.
  • The U.A.E. has signed a total of 31 CEPAs in the last four years with plans to sign 6 more by the end of the year. Due to the CEPAs, the U.A.E. experienced a $149 billion increase in trade. 
  • U.S. companies can leverage the U.A.E.’s CEPAs to expand globally, particularly in Asia, Africa, and Europe, using the U.A.E. as a launchpad to reach dynamic emerging markets.
  • The strong foundation of the U.A.E. as a globally-connected exporter, its implementation of technology in trade practices and trade finance, and its persistence in pursuing trade with other countries all work to overcome global trade challenges.
  • The U.A.E. remains focused on key sectors to enhance its diversification and trade strategies, including AI and technology, pharmaceuticals and life sciences, hospitality, and energy, particularly nuclear energy and renewables.

His Excellency reaffirmed that U.S. companies remain central to the U.A.E.’s trade agenda and emphasized the synergies between CEPAs and ongoing investment deals in unlocking new avenues for bilateral cooperation.

For more information about the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council’s programming and this event, please contact Caitlin Cottrell at ccottrell@usuaebusiness.org.