UAE open to bilateral trade opportunities, economy ministry says

Sources said that the UAE was frustrated at long-stalled talks between the EU and the GCC, whose six members along with the UAE are Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.

The United Arab Emirates is open to exploring trade opportunities both through the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and on a bilateral basis, an economy ministry spokesperson said on Thursday, following a Reuters report the Gulf state was interested in bilateral trade talks with the European Union. "The UAE remains a believer in trade as a driver of economic growth and diversification and we are open to exploring opportunities with partners both through the GCC and on a bilateral basis. Our priority is to keep trade moving," the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

Reuters reported on March 19 that UAE officials had frequently raised the idea of bilateral trade talks with counterparts from the EU and its member states. Sources said that the UAE was frustrated at long-stalled talks between the EU and the GCC, whose six members along with the UAE are Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.