UAE Diversifies Trade Routes in Response to Iran Crisis

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi underscored the UAE's strategic measures to safeguard international trade and economic stability amidst the ongoing conflict in Iran.

Addressing the GLOBSEC Forum 2026 in Prague, during the panel titled “The Ripple Effect: How the Iran War is Shaping Global Economies and Politics”, Al Zeyoudi detailed the proactive steps the UAE has adopted to mitigate the impact on global shipping and supply chains.

He announced the activation of alternative trade routes to facilitate uninterrupted goods transportation in the region. Key initiatives include leveraging the eastern ports of Fujairah and Khorfakkan, establishing air cargo routes for crucial food and pharmaceutical deliveries, creating a Green Corridor with Oman, and introducing the Sharjah-Dammam trade bridge.

Moreover, Al Zeyoudi disclosed the establishment of an AED 1 billion economic support fund designed to assist businesses in maintaining operations amidst the crisis. This support primarily benefits small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) facing challenges due to regional disruptions.

In a parallel effort, the UAE Central Bank unveiled a Five-Pillar Financial Institution Resilience Package aimed at ensuring credit availability and upholding financial stability nationwide.

Al Zeyoudi emphasized that the ongoing crisis has expedited the UAE’s plans to enhance Gulf logistics and build a robust trade framework.

He further highlighted the significance of the UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) initiative, which plays a crucial role in bolstering foreign trade. To date, the programme has achieved 36 agreements with nations across six continents, contributing to the UAE's non-oil foreign trade reaching US$1.03 trillion in 2025.

Al Zeyoudi affirmed the UAE's status as a pivotal global trade and investment hub linking markets in the Gulf, Africa, and Asia, while stressing the nation's increasing importance amid current geopolitical uncertainties.

#Global News #World News #UAE News #Dubai News