Benin and UAE sign comprehensive economic partnership agreement
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on La Nouvelle Tribune
Benin and the United Arab Emirates have signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to facilitate trade and investment. Their non-oil trade reached $2.15 billion in 2025 and $1.29 billion in the first half of 2026, according to figures cited by La Nouvelle Tribune.
Benin and the United Arab Emirates have signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to facilitate trade and encourage investment. The agreement was signed by UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and Benin’s Minister of Tourism and Foreign Trade Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, in the presence of Presidents Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Romuald Wadagni, according to La Nouvelle Tribune.
Non-oil trade between the two countries reached $2.15 billion in 2025, up 65% year on year and more than double the figure recorded in 2021. Growth continued in the first half of 2026, with trade totalling $1.29 billion, a 37.4% increase compared with the same period in 2025.
The signing follows several diplomatic and economic initiatives by Beninese President Romuald Wadagni, including his planned meeting in Paris with Emmanuel Macron and the financing agreements Benin is planning in Paris, announced on 2 and 5 October 2026.
