UAE-Mercosur Trade Summit: Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi Delivers Presidential Address to Fast-Track $6.2B Economic Alliance

The UAE is aggressively pursuing a landmark trade deal with South America’s Mercosur bloc, following a record-breaking $6.2 billion in non-oil trade between the two sides in 2025. On behalf of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, formally addressed world leaders at the Mercosur Summit in Asunción, Paraguay.

The UAE delegation leveraged the summit to fast-track negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), positioning the Gulf nation to become the third Arab partner to sign a trade pact with the South American alliance.

Accelerating the CEPA Framework

During his address to member states and partner countries, Dr. Al Zeyoudi framed the upcoming CEPA as a vital strategic framework necessary to unlock the full potential of the transatlantic relationship. The regional trade alliance—comprising Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia—represents a massive consumer market and a foundational pillar for the UAE's long-term economic diversification goals.

"The world is witnessing rapid geopolitical shifts that are reshaping the global economy," Dr. Al Zeyoudi stated. He emphasized that these global disruptions offer a prime opportunity for the UAE and Mercosur to build a balanced, sustainable partnership that secures critical market access for exporters on both sides.

Strategic Alignment and Food Security

Beyond lowering tariffs, the high-level discussions in Asunción centered heavily on: Securing food supply chains to anchor the UAE’s long-term food security strategy.; Joint investments in clean energy infrastructure and cross-border logistics hubs.; and Advancing market access to elevate the UAE's profile as a global investment hub.

The push aligns with the broader Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) and federal blueprints designed to boost total non-oil trade volume to $1 trillion by 2031. With Paraguay handing over the rotating presidency of Mercosur to Uruguay at the close of the summit, UAE negotiators are prepared to maintain momentum through the final stages of the historic trade talks.