UAE and Democratic Republic of Congo unlock new trade frontier with landmark economic partnership

A comprehensive agreement enters into force, removing tariffs and opening pathways for investment across logistics, energy and manufacturing as the UAE deepens its strategic engagement with Africa's resource-rich economies.

The removal of tariffs and harmonisation of customs procedures between the UAE and the Democratic Republic of Congo marks a significant moment in bilateral economic relations. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which entered into force on 30th October 2026, represents a carefully calibrated effort to deepen trade flows and facilitate investment between two nations with complementary economic strengths and ambitions.

The Democratic Republic of Congo stands as one of Africa’s largest economies, with a GDP of US$122.28 billion and a growth trajectory of 5.2%. Its strategic geography, bordered by nine countries, positions it as a natural conduit for commerce across Central and Eastern Africa. More significantly, the DRC holds extraordinary mineral wealth: it accounts for more than 70 per cent of the world’s cobalt supply, leads Africa in copper production, and is a substantial source of gold, tin, tantalum and tungsten. These materials form the essential foundation of modern electrical systems and the technologies driving the global energy transition.

Bilateral trade between the two nations has already begun to flourish. Non-oil trade reached US$3.5 billion in 2025, a remarkable expansion of 38.5 per cent compared to the previous year. Emirati exports of vehicles, machinery, electronics and construction materials have found receptive markets, while the UAE has emerged as an important channel for DRC’s minerals and agricultural exports, from metals to cotton and food products.

Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, characterised the agreement’s entry into force as a decisive step forward in the nation’s broader economic strategy. “The UAE’s foreign-trade ambitions are centred on connecting our market to the highest potential economies around the world,” he observed, noting that the arrangement grants Emirati businesses meaningful access to a nation with progressive development initiatives and to a wider region offering diverse opportunities for exporters and investors alike.

This agreement forms part of a larger architecture. As we reported recently, the UAE has been cultivating similar partnerships with dynamic markets globally, and has begun negotiations with Argentina focused on mining, artificial intelligence, energy and pharmaceuticals. The UAE has now concluded 40 comprehensive economic partnerships internationally, with 20 currently in force. Each represents not merely a reduction in trade barriers, but a commitment to integrated economic relationships that transcend conventional commercial exchange.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

For Abu Dhabi’s private sector, this agreement represents a gateway into one of Africa’s most resource-intensive economies at a moment when global demand for minerals essential to energy transition remains robust. The framework removes structural impediments to investment and trade, allowing Emirati companies to establish deeper operations in logistics, manufacturing and energy sectors, whilst creating opportunities for long-term partnerships with DRC enterprises.

Strategically, the agreement reinforces the UAE’s positioning as a central node in global trade networks. The nation’s role as a conduit for DRC exports demonstrates how its established commercial infrastructure, sophisticated financial systems and geographic location create value not merely for local enterprises but for international partners seeking efficient pathways to global markets. This pattern of deepening bilateral relationships with resource-rich and strategically positioned economies reflects the sustained ambitions of Abu Dhabi’s economic vision.

Source: WAM