Today, President von der Leyen had a friendly phone call with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates. They agreed to initiate negotiations on a free trade agreement.

This marks a positive step forward in EU-UAE relations and can act as a catalyst for stronger ties between the EU and the Gulf States, alongside broader Strategic Partnership Agreements.

President von der Leyen highlighted the EUs strong record of high-standard trade agreements and partnerships based on open trade and mutual benefit.

The upcoming negotiations will focus on liberalizing trade in goods, services, and investment, while deepening cooperation in strategic sectors like renewable energy, green hydrogen, and critical raw materials.

President von der Leyen expressed confidence in swift and ambitious action from both sides. Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič will soon return to the UAE to advance the talks.

A modern and ambitious agreement will not only strengthen EU-UAE relations but also contribute to broader regional prosperity.