Abu Dhabi: Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed the Malaysia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on Tuesday to unlock new opportunities in trade, investment, and economic cooperation between both countries.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and UAE President and Abu Dhabi Ruler Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the ADNEC Centre. This event marked a significant milestone in Malaysia’s economic relations with the Gulf region.

Earlier, Anwar, as part of his three-day working visit to the UAE, paid a courtesy call on the UAE President. The Prime Minister, along with other world leaders, then attended the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2025, which was graced by Sheikh Mohamed.

In a statement, Anwar welcomed the signing of the agreement between the countries. He emphasized that as Malaysia’s first free trade agreement with a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member country, the agreement is expected to serve as a catalyst for stronger trade and investment relations not only between Malaysia and the UAE but also with other Gulf countries.

‘The Malaysia-UAE CEPA will open up opportunities for deeper economic cooperation, including tariff elimination or reduction as well as enhanced market access, which will drive exports and create new investment opportunities for key sectors,’ he added.