The Republic of Benin and the United Arab Emirates have sealed a groundbreaking Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) during an official working visit to Abu Dhabi. This strategic accord marks a turning point in bilateral trade relations, designed to dismantle commercial barriers and unlock fresh economic opportunities for businesses and investors in both nations.

What does the Benin-UAE CEPA actually include?

The partnership, finalized in Abu Dhabi, outlines a series of tangible measures aimed at boosting trade flows and fostering industrial collaboration:

• Tariff elimination: The agreement phases out or immediately removes customs duties on a broad spectrum of agricultural, industrial, and manufactured goods. This move will streamline access for Beninese products to the Gulf market and vice versa.
• Expanded service market access: Service providers, investors, and tech firms from both countries will benefit from relaxed market regulations and stronger legal protections.
• New bilateral cooperation areas: Beyond the core trade treaty, additional protocols cover high-priority sectors such as renewable energy, agribusiness, data hosting and digital innovation, food security, and government-to-government expertise exchanges.

Trade between Benin and UAE surges ahead of the deal

The CEPA doesn’t emerge in isolation—it formalizes and accelerates a rapid expansion in non-oil trade that has been underway for years. Official data reveals a dramatic rise in bilateral exchange, with non-oil trade climbing from $1.01 billion in 2021 to $2.15 billion in 2025, a 65% surge. Momentum continued into the first half of 2026, with trade volume hitting $1.29 billion, a 37.4% year-on-year increase. This steep growth underscored the urgent need for a structured legal framework to regulate and safeguard these burgeoning exchanges.

Why this deal matters for both nations

Benin’s strategic gains from the partnership

For Benin, the CEPA aligns with ongoing economic and logistical reforms, including upgrades at the Port of Cotonou, the expansion of the Glo-Djigbé Special Economic Zone, and agricultural value chain development. Key advantages include:

• Diversifying trade partners beyond traditional European and regional markets.
• Attracting high-capacity UAE foreign direct investment (FDI) into critical infrastructure projects.
• Establishing Benin as a key logistical gateway for UAE interests across West Africa.

UAE’s long-term economic ambitions in Africa

For the UAE, the CEPA strengthens its broader strategy to deepen economic roots in Africa. The agreement secures reliable agricultural supply chains and opens avenues for Emirati capital to flow into sustainable infrastructure ventures across the continent.

Next steps: ratification and implementation

While the signing of the CEPA concludes diplomatic negotiations, its full implementation hinges on ratification by the legislative bodies of both Benin and the UAE. Once approved, the customs exemptions and investment incentives will become fully operational, unlocking new economic opportunities for businesses on both sides.

By Yacouba Ouédraogo — Journalist