Sheikh Mohammed Names New UAE Foreign Trade Minister
The UAE has revolutionized its foreign trade landscape with the creation of a new Ministry of Foreign Trade. Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi will lead this ministry as the appointed Minister of Foreign Trade. The UAE government has also rebranded its Ministry of Economy to the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, with Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri continuing at its helm.
Dr. Al Zeyoudi’s extensive background makes him well-suited for this role in the UAE ministry of foreign trade. He served as the Minister of Climate Change and Environment from February 2016 to July 2020 before becoming the Minister of State for Foreign Trade. His leadership was instrumental in negotiating Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) with major international partners. This appointment fits the UAE’s bold economic vision to increase exports by at least 50 percent by 2030. The new ministry demonstrates UAE’s focused strategy to enhance its position in global trade networks and build stronger international economic partnerships.
Why UAE launched a dedicated foreign trade ministry now
“The Ministry of Economy, through the Foreign Trade Sector and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs), and in collaboration with partners, is working to open broader horizons for UAE-made products.” — Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade
The UAE’s economic progress takes a big step forward with a new foreign trade ministry. This new structure comes right when the country speeds up its trade goals under the “We the Emirates 2031” vision to boost UAE foreign trade value to 4 trillion AED.
The UAE picked the perfect time to make this move. Their non-oil foreign trade hit 835 billion AED in 2025’s first quarter – an 18.6% jump from 2024. Non-oil exports soared by 40.7% year-on-year. These numbers show how well the UAE’s plan to vary its economy works.
Global trade tensions make this change even more crucial. Wall Street lost AED 9.18 trillion after the US imposed broad tariffs. China hit back with a 34% tariff on US imports. The new ministry gives the UAE a focused way to guide through these challenges.
Trade patterns worldwide are changing fast. The UAE has signed 27 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) with different countries. Six of these deals are active with major manufacturing nations like India, Indonesia, and Turkey. A dedicated ministry can handle these growing relationships better.
The UAE keeps building its position as a neutral global trade hub while political tensions rise. The new ministry helps the country take advantage of changing supply chains. Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani Al Zeyoudi says, “The evolving supply chains offer countries opportunities to diversify and forge new partnerships”.
This ministry lines up with the UAE’s bigger plan to hit trade targets early. Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum believes they’ll reach the AED 4 trillion non-oil foreign trade goal in just two years – four years ahead of the 2031 target.
How Dr. Al Zeyoudi’s experience aligns with UAE’s trade goals
Image Source: sharjah24.ae
Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi’s rich experience makes him the perfect choice to push forward UAE’s ambitious trade agenda. His career path has led him naturally to his current position as head of the new UAE ministry foreign trade.
His diplomatic background is the life-blood of UAE’s international trade growth. After getting his PhD from New Zealand and MBA from the United States, he developed vital negotiation skills by working with multiple international organizations. These skills played a key role in securing six active Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements that now strengthen UAE’s free trade agreements.
As Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Dr. Al Zeyoudi has built strong economic bonds across borders. He successfully guided trade agreement talks with India, Indonesia, and Turkey. These mutually beneficial alliances directly help UAE reach its AED 4 trillion non-oil trade target ahead of schedule.
His previous role as Minister of Climate Change and Environment from 2016 to 2020 adds another dimension to his expertise. This position taught him about sustainable development—now a priority in global trade relationships. Such knowledge helps him approach trade talks with an all-encompassing view of economic and environmental factors.
Dr. Al Zeyoudi stands out for his skill in directing complex international relationships while protecting UAE’s strategic interests. The country aims to become a neutral global trade hub, which makes his diplomatic expertise invaluable. His appointment shows UAE’s careful decision to put seasoned leadership in charge of foreign trade when global trade patterns are changing rapidly.
Dr. Al Zeyoudi’s mix of academic qualifications, diplomatic experience, and proven success in securing trade deals makes him the ideal person to lead UAE’s trade expansion. The country continues its journey toward ambitious 2030 export growth targets under his leadership.
What this means for UAE’s global trade positioning
Image Source: Emirates SkyCargo
The UAE’s creation of a foreign trade ministry marks a vital strategic move in the global economic world. This new institution comes at a time when international trade faces major changes due to worldwide geopolitical tensions and protectionist policies.
The ministry strengthens UAE’s role as a neutral global trade hub as international friction grows. Trade routes are changing and supply chains need new arrangements. UAE benefits from its strategic location that connects East and West. The country’s resilient infrastructure with world-class ports and logistics makes the movement of goods smooth.
This ministerial restructuring helps UAE take advantage of changing global trade patterns. The country’s growing network of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) now reaches markets with nearly 30% of the world’s population and about 27% of global GDP. These agreements target emerging economic powerhouses and create better channels for UAE exports.
The institutional reform matches the country’s goal to boost exports by 50% by 2030. A dedicated ministry enables focused policy implementation and specialized diplomatic efforts that support trade objectives.
International investors see the ministry’s creation as proof of UAE’s steadfast dedication to an open, business-friendly environment despite global protectionist trends. Companies looking for stable operations amid trade uncertainties elsewhere might choose UAE.
UAE’s ministry of foreign trade will focus on expanding its free trade agreements with partners that support the country’s economic diversification goals. This focused strategy aims to increase trade volume and improve UAE’s influence in global trade governance.
This new ministry is more than just an administrative change. It represents a strategic move to improve UAE’s position as a key player in the changing global trade landscape.
The UAE’s creation of a dedicated Ministry of Foreign Trade marks a defining moment in the nation’s economic rise. Global trade patterns face major disruption from geopolitical tensions and protectionist policies. The UAE has positioned itself as a powerful architect of new trade dynamics rather than just another participant.
Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi’s appointment as Minister of Foreign Trade shows the perfect match between leadership expertise and national goals. His diplomatic skills and impressive record in negotiating Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements make him the ideal choice to advance UAE’s trade agenda. His background with climate change initiatives offers valuable insights as sustainability takes center stage in international trade talks.
The ministry steps up as UAE races toward its ambitious target of AED 4 trillion in non-oil foreign trade. Latest evidence suggests they’ll reach this goal four years early, which shows the country’s remarkable economic momentum. The recent 40.7% growth in non-oil exports proves their diversification strategies work well.
Economic indicators back this institutional reform strongly. Non-oil foreign trade hit 835 billion AED in 2025’s first quarter—an 18.6% jump from last year that shows trade’s growing role in UAE’s economic future. A specialized ministry proves vital to manage this growth path.
This ministerial restructuring boosts UAE’s position amid global trade tensions. The country can now better direct complex international negotiations while growing its network of preferential trade agreements. UAE has secured its spot as a neutral trade hub linking East and West.
The road ahead looks promising for UAE’s trade relations. Their focus on bilateral and multilateral agreements will unlock new markets for local businesses and attract foreign investors looking for stability in uncertain times. This ministry’s establishment shows UAE’s bold vision for its role in tomorrow’s global economy.
