UAE and Kenya sign CEPA deal in Abu Dhabi

The UAE and Kenya have signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) at Qasr Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi, designed to deepen trade and investment ties, strengthen supply chains, and enhance market access across the Middle East and Africa.

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Dr William Samoei Ruto, President of Kenya, oversaw the signing.

Sheikh Mohamed welcomed the agreement as a testament to the UAE’s commitment to strengthening economic ties across Africa and creating new opportunities for businesses and investors.

The UAE President said the CEPA will boost trade and investment while also fostering innovation and sustainable growth in key sectors such as agriculture, retail, healthcare, financial services, technology and tourism. He also stated that the UAE looks forward to deepening its relations with Kenya and further expanding its developmental partnerships in Africa.

President of Kenya Dr William Samoei Ruto expressed his gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his commitment to strengthening ties between the UAE and Kenya.

He described the CEPA as a major step forward in their economic relations and reaffirmed Kenya's keenness to achieve its goals for the mutual benefit of both nations.

The UAE-Kenya CEPA was signed by His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and His Excellency Dr Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of Kenya.

The new agreement builds on growing cooperation between the UAE and Kenya, which saw bilateral non-oil trade reach $3.1 billion (AED11 billion) in the first nine months of 2024, an increase of 29.1 percent compared to the same period in 2023.

Kenya's economy, one of the most promising in Africa, experienced real GDP growth of 5.6 per cent in 2023, with estimates it will average 5.2 percent between 2024 to 2026. Among others, its services sector, which accounts for 53.6 per cent of Kenya’s GDP, and agriculture sector, comprising around a quarter of national GDP, offer vast potential for UAE businesses looking to expand into the region.