The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to boost trade and investment between the two nations.
The agreement was signed in Abu Dhabi in the presence of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi.
Sheikh Mohamed said the deal is designed to support both countries’ development goals and enhance private-sector collaboration in key sectors such as mining, agriculture, and clean energy.
The CEPA is expected to reduce tariffs and ease trade barriers, significantly increasing investment flows.
The leaders also witnessed an investment cooperation agreement in the mining sector and a memorandum of understanding between their diplomatic academies. Maritime transport cooperation was also agreed upon.
DR Congo, a major producer of cobalt and other minerals critical for electric vehicles and energy technologies, provides the UAE with a strategic entry point to expand trade across Central and Eastern Africa.
Non-oil trade between the UAE and DRC reached $2.9 billion in the first nine months of 2025, a 16% increase from the previous year.
The CEPA aligns with the UAE’s goal to grow its non-oil foreign trade to $1.1 trillion by 2031.
