Singapore and the United Arab Emirates intend to open trade agreement talks to widen market access and investment, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said after their leaders met in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 21.
The proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement would build on growing commercial ties. The governments said non-oil bilateral trade reached about $6.5 billion in 2025, up 25% from 2024. In their joint statement, they identified the UAE as Singapore's biggest trading partner and investment destination across the Middle East and North Africa.
Singapore's ministry described the leaders' decision as an intent to launch negotiations. The governments gave no deadline for reaching an agreement.
At Qasr Al Watan, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong oversaw the exchange of three memorandums of understanding. The agreements cover an energy task force, water cooperation and disease vector control.
The energy task force brings together Singapore's Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. Its proposed work spans energy trading, infrastructure projects and downstream operations. Singapore's foreign ministry said the cooperation is intended to support energy security and both countries' energy transitions.
The water agreement pairs Singapore's Public Utilities Board with the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy. The vector control agreement links Singapore's National Environment Agency and the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre.
The Abu Dhabi Media Office said Wong met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Zayed National Museum on Oct. 20, during the same visit.
The countries established a comprehensive partnership in 2019. They agreed to convene a fourth joint committee meeting to review cooperation on matters including trade, energy, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, but announced no date.
Separately, Singapore investment company Temasek expects to open an Abu Dhabi office in the first half of 2027, subject to statutory approvals.
