Australia-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is Australia's largest trade and investment partner in the Middle East.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is Australia's largest trade and investment partner in the Middle East. Two-way trade between Australia and the UAE was worth $9.9 billion in 2023.

On 6 November 2024 Australia and the UAE signed the Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), a bilateral free trade agreement that will lay the groundwork for closer economic ties.

This agreement will result in estimated tariff savings of $135 million in the first year, which is predicted to rise to $160 million per year once the agreement is fully implemented.

Highlights of CEPA 

Goods

When fully implemented, CEPA will eliminate tariffs on over 99% of Australia's goods exports to the UAE. Most tariffs will be eliminated or locked in at zero on entry into force, with others eliminated over 3 or 5 stages for:

  • dairy 
  • red meat
  • wine
  • canola seeds
  • grains and oilseeds
  • pulses
  • horticulture
  • honey.

Industry

Most tariffs will be eliminated or locked in at zero on entry into force, with others eliminated over 3 or 5 stages for:

  • aluminium
  • gold 
  • vehicle parts
  • pharmaceuticals
  • cosmetics
  • jewellery.

Services

CEPA will create greater certainty for Australian services providers in over 120 sectors and sub-sectors. This will include professional services, financial services and education wanting to do business in the UAE.

Investment

CEPA will support and promote two-way productive foreign direct investment covering the following priority sectors:

  • Green and Renewable Energy
  • Data Centres and AI Projects
  • Minerals
  • Food and Agriculture
  • Infrastructure Development.

Other key benefits of CEPA are included in the following chapters:

  • Skilled Labour Mobility
  • Labour
  • Environment and the Transition to Net Zero
  • Gender Balance and Women's Economic Empowerment
  • First Nations Trade and Cooperation
  • Sustainable Agriculture
  • Animal Welfare
  • Digital Trade
  • Government Procurement
  • Intellectual Property
  • Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs)
  • Competition, Consumer Protections and State-Owned Enterprises
  • Legal and Institutional Framework
  • Transparency and Anti-Corruption
  • Economic Cooperation.

How we can help you succeed 

We can help you understand specific market opportunities for your products or services. We can also provide a range of in-market and Australian-based services for:

  • Emirati investors exploring the Australian market
  • Australian business looking to enter the UAE.

Email: dubai@austrade.gov.au

Learn more about Doing business in the United Arab Emirates.

More information

For detailed information, visit the Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) page on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.


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