BENIN · TRADE
Key Facts
- —The country Benin is a West African coastal nation whose main port and largest city is Cotonou.
- —What happened On Sunday 25 October 2026 in Abu Dhabi, Benin and the UAE signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
- —Who signed Ministers Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and Olushegun Adjadi Bakari signed; Presidents Romuald Wadagni and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed watched.
- —The numbers Non-oil trade reached US$2.15 billion in 2025, up 65% on 2024 and double the 2021 level, per the UAE.
- —This year Non-oil trade reached US$1.29 billion in the first half of 2026, up 37.4% from the same months of 2025, according to the UAE side.
- —The catch Lower tariffs apply only after both countries complete ratification and the deal enters into force, and no date has been published.
- —Still open Which goods get the deepest tariff cuts, and which Beninese products gain access to the Emirates, has not been published.
The Benin Emirates trade deal was signed in Abu Dhabi on Sunday 25 October to cut customs duties on many goods once ratified. Benin and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) agreed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, part of a UAE trade programme begun in 2021.
For US readers, the Benin Emirates trade deal shows Gulf trade interests reaching into a small West African coastal state. President Romuald Wadagni attended the signing, according to the Beninese news sites Benin Web TV and 24 Heures au Bénin.
What Was Signed in Abu Dhabi
UAE foreign trade minister Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and Benin’s trade minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari signed the Benin Emirates trade deal. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Wadagni watched the exchange of the text.
Once ratified, the pact will cut or remove customs duties on many goods, according to the UAE announcement. It will also ease market access for service firms and investors, and Sheikh Mohamed called it a significant milestone.
Seven Side Agreements Came With It
Alongside the main pact, the two leaders witnessed seven smaller papers. They include a memorandum on political talks, a consular committee, and a link between the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy and Benin’s foreign ministry.
Other papers cover data hosting and information systems, exchange of government experience, and a strategic investment partnership. One more deals with workforce cooperation and includes a cooperation protocol on domestic workers.
A Trade Relationship That Has Doubled
Trade between the two countries, not counting oil, reached US$2.15 billion in 2025, according to the Emirati side, up 65% on 2024. In 2021 the figure was US$1.01 billion, so the flow has more than doubled in four years.
In the first half of 2026, non-oil trade reached US$1.29 billion, up 37.4% from the same period of 2025. Both figures come from the UAE side, and we found no Beninese statistics for the period.
Why the Emirates Want a Foothold in Benin
Benin ranks 11th in Africa on economic freedom in the Fraser Institute’s 2026 report, and Cotonou is its main trade gateway. The UAE calls the Benin Emirates trade deal a step toward being a global hub for trade, investment and logistics.
The Glo-Djigbé industrial zone near the capital plans its own power plants, a sector where the investment partnership could matter. No Emirati project in Benin has been announced under the new papers.
Part of a Wider UAE Trade Push
The UAE launched its Comprehensive Economic Partnership programme in September 2021 and calls the Benin pact an addition to its network. Security ties are also growing, as Benin’s defence ministry asked the UAE ambassador on 8 September for military training and equipment, La Nouvelle Tribune reported.
24 Heures au Bénin, citing unnamed sources, reported that Wadagni would travel on to Moscow for a Russia-Africa summit. No dates were given in that report.
What It Means for US Readers
US exporters selling to Benin could face tougher price competition once Emirati goods enter with lower tariffs. Firms active in Cotonou’s port and logistics trade may meet more Gulf rivals over time.
For investors, the deal adds to a run of Benin news, including US$106 million in French financing agreements signed at talks with President Macron. The domestic workers protocol is also worth watching, since it will govern how Beninese workers are treated in the UAE.
What Is Not Known
No date has been given for ratification, and we found no full text of the pact. Which goods get duty-free treatment, and how quickly, remains open.
The size of any Emirati investment under the strategic investment partnership has not been disclosed. It is also unclear which Beninese exports will gain better access to Gulf buyers, and whether the Benin Emirates trade deal will change prices.
More: Africa news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Benin and the UAE sign on 25 October?
They signed the Benin Emirates trade deal, a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, in Abu Dhabi. It will cut or remove customs duties on a wide range of goods once both countries ratify it.
Who signed the Benin Emirates trade deal?
Trade ministers Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi of the UAE and Olushegun Adjadi Bakari of Benin signed it. Presidents Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Romuald Wadagni attended.
When will the lower tariffs start?
Not yet, because the pact must first be ratified and enter into force. No date has been announced.
How much trade is there between Benin and the UAE?
Non-oil trade reached US$2.15 billion in 2025, up 65% from 2024, according to the UAE. In the first half of 2026 it reached US$1.29 billion, up 37.4%.
Does the Benin Emirates trade deal affect US companies?
It may, because Emirati goods and service firms will get easier access to Benin’s market. US exporters could face more price competition, while US investors may see more Gulf partners in Benin.
Sources: Benin Web TV, Bénin–Émirats arabes unis : un accord économique signé à Abou Dhabi, 25 October 2026; La Nouvelle Tribune, Bénin : Wadagni conclut un accord économique majeur avec les Émirats arabes unis, 25 October 2026; 24 Heures au Bénin, Abou Dhabi et Cotonou scellent un accord économique, 25 October 2026; The National, UAE and Benin agree to trade deal in Abu Dhabi, 25 October 2026; Gulf News, UAE and Benin Presidents Witness Historic Economic Partnership Agreement, 25 October 2026; La Nouvelle Tribune, Défense : le Bénin échange avec les Émirats, September 2026; 24 Heures au Bénin, Le président Wadagni annoncé aux Émirats arabes unis et à Moscou, October 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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