UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi highlighted the strong trade relations with Ecuador while hosting a high-level delegation from the country. According to Al Zeyoudi, the UAE accounts for around 30 percent of Ecuador’s trade with the Arab world and the African continent. The minister identified the UAE as Ecuador’s largest trading partner in both regions. This assessment formed part of talks on expanding economic cooperation across several sectors.
Figures from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade show that non-oil bilateral trade between the two nations reached 675 million dollars in 2023. That total marked a 76 percent increase compared with 2022 levels. UAE non-oil exports to Ecuador grew 46 percent in 2024 to reach 37 million dollars, Al Zeyoudi stated during a later engagement. United Nations COMTRADE data places Ecuador’s exports to the UAE at 236.67 million dollars in 2024.
Negotiations toward a comprehensive economic partnership agreement between the UAE and Ecuador began following an announcement of intent in April 2024, according to a joint statement released at the time by the Emirates News Agency. The proposed pact seeks to boost two-way investment and trade in areas including technology, logistics and renewable energy. Several rounds of talks have taken place since the initial declaration. The agreement formed a central topic during the March 2026 meetings.
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa on March 2, 2026, to discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral ties, WAM reported. The discussions included opportunities in trade, investment and technology transfer. A joint statement issued in December 2025 had already outlined shared priorities in these fields. The latest meeting built upon prior leadership engagements.
The delegation’s agenda included meetings with UAE business leaders and government officials to identify new investment opportunities. Ecuadorian exports to the UAE have focused on bananas, roses and other flowers in past years, according to earlier trade records from the Emirates News Agency. The UAE has supplied industrial goods and technology to support Ecuador’s development goals. These exchanges form the foundation of the current trade volumes between the two countries.
