Al-Zeyoudi: The UAE is the largest foreign investor in Armenia and $4.5 billion in bilateral trade
Abu Dhabi, 5 February / WAM / His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, confirmed that the signing of the Services and Investments Trade Agreement between the UAE and the Republic of Armenia is a qualitative step that strengthens the economic partnership between the two countries and contributes to expanding the horizons of trade and investment cooperation.
His Excellency said in a statement to the Emirates News Agency, WAM, that the services and investments trade agreement with Armenia will enhance the access of the UAE’s services exports to the markets and contribute to facilitating the flow of investments between the two countries in a way that supports the goals of joint economic development.
Al-Zeyoudi explained that the agreement would enhance opportunities for companies operating in the fields of financial and commercial services, consulting, education and health care, in addition to providing new paths for foreign direct investment and launching joint projects between the public and private sectors.
His Excellency pointed out that the agreement will also contribute to the UAE services sector’s access to markets, especially in the areas of financial services, financial technology, professional services and consulting. It will also open promising investment horizons in the sectors of logistics, manufacturing, infrastructure and renewable energy.
He stressed that this agreement reflects the UAE’s position as a global center for foreign direct investment and supports the expansion of Emirati investors into new markets in line with the country’s vision to diversify the economy and enhance its global competitiveness.
His Excellency pointed out that Armenia has become an important trading partner for the UAE, pointing out that the volume of non-oil bilateral trade between the two countries reached $4.5 billion in 2025, while the past five years have witnessed joint cooperation in major projects in the energy and infrastructure sectors.
He added that the UAE has surpassed Russia to become the largest foreign investor in Armenia, which reflects the strength of investment relations and mutual trust between the two sides.
Regarding the integration of this agreement with the economic partnership agreement signed with the Eurasian Economic Union, His Excellency explained that the economic partnership agreement is a comprehensive agreement at the union level that aims to remove customs duties, reduce non-tariff barriers to trade, and enhance the access of goods exports to markets, while the services and investment trade agreement with Armenia focuses on investment opportunities and services exports.
He stressed that the two agreements do not only target multinational companies, but also pay special attention to small and medium-sized companies, as the economic partnership agreement includes a chapter dedicated to easing trade restrictions for exporters of these companies on both sides, stressing that trade partnerships have become a necessity to maintain growth and create opportunities in light of global economic challenges.
His Excellency explained that the Economic Partnership Agreement covers the same areas covered by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements, with the exception of trade in services and investments, and based on the legal mandate from the Eurasian Economic Union, it was agreed to negotiate services and investments separately according to the “state to state” principle.
He pointed out that services and investment trade agreements were signed with both Armenia and Belarus, while negotiations continue with the other parties, expressing his aspirations to complete them during the coming period.
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