14 November 2026
The UAE and Mozambique have concluded negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The final terms were announced in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, 14 November 2026, during a visit by Mozambique President Daniel Francisco Chapo. The agreement is not yet in force: it still has to be signed and ratified, and no dates for these steps have been announced. Trade is already growing fast. Bilateral non-oil trade reached about USD 2.6 billion (about AED 9.5 billion) in 2025, up 91.6% on 2024, and USD 2.5 billion (about AED 9.2 billion) in the first nine months of 2026, up 49% year on year.
What was announced in Abu Dhabi
The conclusion of talks was announced by Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, and Basílio Zefanias Muhate, Minister of Economy of Mozambique, in the presence of President Chapo, according to the UAE state news agency WAM. Once signed, ratified and in force, the CEPA will reduce customs duties, remove trade barriers and expand market access, while providing a stable framework for investment.
Al Zeyoudi called the conclusion of talks a significant milestone in the UAE effort to expand its network of trade and investment partnerships across Africa. He pointed to the economic potential of Mozambique and its location in East Africa, and said the agreement will make market access easier for goods and services and encourage investment in both directions. Muhate said the agreement marks a new phase in relations: it will help Mozambican producers reach new markets through the UAE as a trade hub and encourage Emirati investment in agro-processing, industry and infrastructure.
On the same day, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received President Chapo in Abu Dhabi. The two leaders discussed the economy, investment, renewable energy, food security and agriculture, and witnessed the exchange of two memoranda of understanding on cooperation in energy and tourism. The memoranda were exchanged by Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of State, and Minister Muhate.
Key figures
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| Negotiations concluded | Announced 14 November 2026, Abu Dhabi |
| Non-oil trade, 2025 | About USD 2.6 billion (about AED 9.5 billion), up 91.6% on 2024 |
| Non-oil trade, 2025 vs 2019 | Almost five times higher |
| Non-oil trade, 9 months of 2026 | USD 2.5 billion (about AED 9.2 billion), up 49% |
| Bilateral trade, 9 months of 2025 | About USD 1.7 billion (about AED 6.2 billion), up 57.8% |
| UAE CEPA programme launched | September 2021 |
| Signing and entry into force | No dates announced |
How UAE-Mozambique trade has grown
Trade between the two countries has grown quickly over the past two years. At a UAE-Mozambique Business Roundtable held in Abu Dhabi in January 2026, on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, Al Zeyoudi said bilateral trade had reached about USD 1.7 billion in the first nine months of 2025, up 57.8% year on year and more than USD 300 million above the total for 2024.
Full-year 2025 non-oil trade then reached about USD 2.6 billion, up 91.6% on 2024 and almost five times the 2019 level. In 2026 the pace has continued: USD 2.5 billion in the first nine months, 49% more than in the same period of 2025. With one quarter still to go, the 2026 figure is already close to the full-year 2025 total. These are non-oil figures and do not include crude oil and petroleum products.
Which sectors the agreement targets
According to WAM, the CEPA is expected to open cooperation in five priority sectors:
- energy;
- logistics;
- agriculture and food security;
- mining and critical minerals;
- manufacturing.
The announcement describes the deal in general terms: lower customs duties, fewer trade barriers, wider market access and a stable framework for investment. The tariff schedule, the share of tariff lines covered, rules of origin and commitments on services and investment have not been published. These details will only be known from the legal text, so any estimate of duty savings today would be a guess.
UAE investment already in Mozambique
The agreement builds on large UAE investments that are already in place. WAM names two of them:
- XRG holds a 10% stake in the Area 4 concession of the Rovuma Basin in Mozambique;
- DP World plays a role in the expansion of the Port of Maputo, a key gateway for trade in Southern Africa.
At the January roundtable, Al Zeyoudi also said the UAE supports Mozambique in getting the most value from its natural gas sector, works on solar power facilities there, and cooperates on agricultural production and the expansion of Maputo Port. The roundtable reviewed opportunities in trade, finance, transport and ports, energy, artificial intelligence and agricultural production.
What changes for companies now
Nothing changes at the border yet. Until the CEPA is signed, ratified and in force, goods traded between the UAE and Mozambique are cleared under current customs rules and current duty rates on both sides. No date for signing has been announced.
The practical value of the announcement is time to prepare. When a UAE CEPA enters into force, lower rates usually apply only to goods that meet the rules of origin and come with proof of origin. Our article on the UAE-Thailand CEPA talks concluded in October 2026 shows the same stage of the process on another route. For a UAE trading company, the structure of the business also matters: our guide to mainland vs free zone companies in the UAE explains how the choice affects trading in the local market, import and re-export.
Companies that already trade with Mozambique, or plan to use the UAE as a base for East and Southern Africa, can use the coming months for a short checklist:
- list the goods you buy from or sell to Mozambique with their HS codes;
- check where each product is actually made, since only goods that meet the rules of origin are expected to benefit;
- make sure your UAE trade licence covers the right import, export and re-export activities;
- keep contracts, invoices and shipping documents for each trade flow in order, as banks review them in detail;
- follow the publication of the agreement text and the date of entry into force before changing prices or contracts.
How Atlant Capital can help
Atlant Capital helps entrepreneurs set up and run trading businesses in the UAE. We advise on the choice between free zone and mainland, register the company and add the right trading activities: see our company setup in the UAE service. We also prepare files for corporate bank account opening, where banks review trade flows, suppliers and buyers in detail. When the UAE-Mozambique CEPA text is published, we can help you check what it means for your product range.
Conclusion
The UAE and Mozambique concluded CEPA negotiations on 14 November 2026, during a visit by President Chapo to Abu Dhabi. Non-oil trade almost doubled in 2025 to about USD 2.6 billion and reached USD 2.5 billion in the first nine months of 2026. The agreement still has to be signed and ratified, and no dates or tariff details have been published, so current rules apply for now. Companies on the UAE-Mozambique route can use this period to map their HS codes, check origin and prepare their licence and banking documents.
Source: Gulf Today (WAM), Gulf News.
FAQ
Has the UAE-Mozambique CEPA entered into force?
No. On 14 November 2026 the UAE and Mozambique announced in Abu Dhabi that they had concluded negotiations on the CEPA. The agreement still has to be signed and ratified before it enters into force, and no dates for these steps have been announced.
How large is trade between the UAE and Mozambique?
Non-oil trade between the UAE and Mozambique reached about USD 2.6 billion (about AED 9.5 billion) in 2025, up 91.6% on 2024 and almost five times the 2019 level. In the first nine months of 2026 it reached USD 2.5 billion, up 49% year on year.
Which sectors does the UAE-Mozambique CEPA cover?
According to WAM, the agreement is expected to support cooperation in energy, logistics, agriculture and food security, mining and critical minerals, and manufacturing. The tariff schedule, rules of origin and services commitments have not been published yet.
Will customs duties on trade with Mozambique fall now?
Not yet. Until the CEPA is signed, ratified and in force, current customs rules and duty rates apply on both sides. Once it is in force, lower rates are expected to apply only to goods that meet the rules of origin and come with proof of origin.
