Besides building a reputation as a global trade hub, the United Arab Emirates is shaping the future of international commerce. One of the strategies behind this transformation is the nation’s focus on Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs).

These agreements are opening up new markets, creating sustainable, inclusive economic growth and giving SMEs the chance to compete and win on the world stage. From a close look at the UAE’s evolving trade landscape, it’s evident that CEPAs are a vital part of our national strategy. They reduce barriers, simplify procedures, encourage investment and above all, create opportunities that didn’t earlier exist.

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister of the UAE and the ruler of Dubai, revealed that the UAE had already achieved 75% of its ambitious 2031 trade target by the end of 2024. This reaffirms that the UAE’s trade roadmap is accelerating.

Within this broader strategy, SMEs are emerging as central to the UAE’s long-term vision. Often referred to as the backbone of any economy, SMEs comprise over 94% of companies in the UAE, and in Dubai, they contribute more than 40% of the Emirate’s GDP. That alone makes their empowerment a national imperative.

By embedding SME-focused provisions into CEPAs, the UAE is future-proofing its economy in three critical ways:

1. 1. By reducing over-reliance on large corporations and building a more competitive and diverse private sector.
   2. By fueling innovation at the grassroots, smaller firms often move faster, adopt emerging technologies earlier, and tap into niche markets that larger players may overlook.
   3. By strengthening the export ecosystem from the ground up, enabling local businesses to expand regionally and integrate into global value chains.

This also widens the circle of economic participation. In dynamic markets like Dubai, where entrepreneurship is flourishing, many SMEs are founded by first-time business owners, sector specialists or tech innovators. Giving these enterprises access to international markets increases trade and also cultivates a generation of scalable, globally-minded businesses.

By aligning trade policy with SME growth, the UAE is proving that bold global ambitions can thrive across the enterprise spectrum. In doing so, it’s laying the foundation for an economy that’s diversified and deeply entrepreneurial. With the right structures in place, CEPAs will open borders for SMEs to grow, lead and shape the future of global commerce.