United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Singapore and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) share robust and warm economic relations, underpinned by strong trade and investment linkages and business cooperation. Our economic partnership is anchored by the Gulf Cooperation Council-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (GSFTA) and the UAE-Singapore Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (IPPA).
Last updated on 12 November 2026
Singapore-UAE Economic Relations
Minister for Energy, Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry) Dr Tan See Leng with H.E. Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of the UAE Executive Affairs Authority, at the 17th Abu Dhabi-Singapore Joint Forum in Singapore on 28 September 2026.
Singapore and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) established diplomatic ties in 1985. Since then, bilateral relations between the two countries have grown considerably, evolving well beyond trade to a broad-based partnership spanning investment, financial services, digital economy, energy, and people-to-people ties.
Both Singapore and the UAE are also global financial centres, and have deepened cooperation across a growing range of sectors including energy, health, space, and the digital economy.
Our partnership with the UAE is anchored by the Gulf Cooperation Council-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (GSFTA), which entered into force in 2013. Frequent and substantive high-level exchanges between Singapore and the UAE are supported by joint platforms such as the Abu Dhabi-Singapore Joint Forum and the Future of Investment and Trade Partnership (FITP).
Bilateral Agreements involving UAE
UAE-Singapore Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (IPPA)
The UAE and Singapore concluded negotiations on the IPPA in January 2011 and it was later ratified on 12 May 2012.
Plurilateral Agreements involving UAE
Gulf Cooperation Council-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (GSFTA)
The GSFTA was signed on 15 December 2008 and entered into force on 1 September 2013. Singapore was the first non-Middle Eastern country to sign an FTA with the GCC. The agreement eliminates 99% of tariffs on Singapore’s exports to GCC markets, safeguarding market access and ensuring a more predictable operating environment for companies. This has facilitated the flow of goods and services, boosting commercial activity between Singapore and the GCC.
International Platforms involving UAE
Abu Dhabi Singapore Joint Forum (ADSJF)
ADSJF serves as a key high-level platform for strengthening cooperation and exploring areas of mutual interest between the UAE and Singapore. It is co-chaired by Minister for Trade and Industry ( Energy and Industry) Dr Tan See Leng, and the Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority (EAA), H.E. Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak.
Future of Investment and Trade Partnership (FIT-P)
The FIT Partnership is a grouping of 20 small and medium-sized, trade-dependent countries located across different regions and geographies that seeks to advocate for open, predictable, rules-based and fair trade, enhance investment flows, and facilitate collaborative solutions which are vital to their prosperity and growth.