A trade deal three years in the making is now live. The UAE’s Economic Partnership Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) officially entered into force on October 6, creating a preferential trade framework with Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia, Virgin Radio Dubai reports from the official announcement.

What the agreement actually does

The deal reduces or eliminates customs duties across a broad range of products and streamlines trade procedures. Preferential access covers more than 86 percent of tariff lines, which accounts for about 96 percent of the value of goods currently traded between the two sides. It also sets modern rules for customs cooperation, e-commerce and the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in international trade, according to GCC Business News.

Trucks loading freight at a logistics warehouse in Dubai
Non-oil trade between the UAE and the EAEU reached $33.6 billion in 2025, up 16 percent.

The trade numbers behind the deal

Non-oil trade between the UAE and the EAEU reached $33.6 billion in 2025, up 16 percent year on year, and grew a further 6.2 percent in the first half of 2026 to $14.3 billion. The agreement is expected to support growth toward nearly $50 billion in annual trade by 2032. Minister of Foreign Trade Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said the entry into force turns commercial momentum into a practical platform for exporters, manufacturers and supply-chain partners, pointing to food security, manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, automotive products, technology and precious metals as cooperation areas.

Why it matters beyond the ports

The agreement was signed in Minsk in June 2025 and forms part of the UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement programme launched in 2021. For Dubai readers, the practical effects show up gradually: more Eurasian products on shelves, new routes for UAE exporters, and a busier logistics sector. Business travellers following the corridor can pair this with our Dubai trip cost breakdown and where to stay in Dubai guide, and visitors from EAEU states should check the Dubai tourist visa guide before booking.

Business handshake at a trade conference in Abu Dhabi
Trade is expected to grow toward nearly $50 billion a year by 2032 under the agreement.

FAQs

Which countries are in the EAEU?

Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the Russian Federation.

How much trade does the deal cover?

Preferential access spans more than 86 percent of tariff lines, covering about 96 percent of the value of current trade.

How big is UAE-EAEU trade now?

Non-oil trade reached $33.6 billion in 2025, up 16 percent, and $14.3 billion in the first half of 2026.

When was the agreement signed?

In Minsk in June 2025. It entered into force on October 6, 2026.