Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi joined the UAE delegation at the United Nations General Assembly in New York where he participated in multiple bilateral meetings focused on trade expansion. According to the Emirates News Agency, the minister discussed opportunities to expand trade and investment partnerships with ministers and officials in New York while also engaging with public and private sector leaders. These sessions included roundtables hosted by the UAE-US Business Council and the US Chamber of Commerce that brought together senior executives from leading American companies.
The meetings highlighted the United States as the UAE’s sixth-largest global trading partner with bilateral non-oil trade reaching $38 billion in 2024. Ministry of Foreign Trade data shows that figure reflected a 44.5 percent increase over the previous five years. Al Zeyoudi pointed to ongoing collaborations including a $25 billion joint venture between ADQ and Energy Capital Partners in US energy production together with Emirates Global Aluminium’s $4 billion investment in a new smelter that will support semiconductor and electric vehicle manufacturing.
Al Zeyoudi stated during the gatherings that the UAE’s presence at the UN General Assembly meeting emphasises our national commitment to playing a pivotal role in fostering global economic growth and prosperity. He added that by forging strong partnerships and leveraging our collective strengths we can drive growth and prosperity not just for our nation but for the world. The minister noted that our discussions here in New York centered around increasing trade and investment flows around the world deepening our economic partnerships with like-minded nations in order to achieve our shared goals in economic development and sustainability.
Ministry of Foreign Trade figures show the UAE’s non-oil foreign trade reached approximately AED 3.8 trillion in 2025 recording growth of 27 percent compared to 2024. Non-oil exports climbed to AED 813.8 billion that year while re-exports totalled AED 830.2 billion and imports exceeded AED 2.1 trillion. The strong performance continued into the first half of 2026 when non-oil trade approached AED 1.937 trillion according to official statistics released in July 2026.
Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements have formed a central element of the UAE’s trade strategy with 36 such deals concluded since 2021. A Ministry of Foreign Trade assessment found that non-oil trade with countries where CEPAs are in force reached AED 304.3 billion in the first half of 2026. Al Zeyoudi emphasised that these agreements allow the UAE to serve as a gateway for US and other international companies seeking access to high-growth markets across Asia Africa and Europe.
Senior executives from financial services private equity advanced technology and real estate sectors attended the New York sessions. Organisations represented included Mashreq Bank UBS KKR the Goldman Sachs Global Institute Blackrock Infrastructure Investments and the Eurasia Group. The discussions underscored the importance of high-level collaboration to enhance economic ties drive sustainable development and support the UAE’s diversification objectives.
The minister’s engagements align with the UAE’s broader goal of positioning itself as a global trade hub through continued investment and partnership building. Public and private sector participants reviewed potential areas for further cooperation in clean energy technology and infrastructure. These New York meetings build upon the record trade volumes achieved in recent years and aim to sustain momentum into 2026 and beyond.
