Nigeria and UAE Eliminate Tariffs on 7,000+ Products

Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates just made it dramatically easier for their businesses to trade with each other.

The two nations signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement during the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit. Presidents Bola Tinubu of Nigeria and Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE watched as their countries committed to eliminating tariffs on over 7,000 products.

For Nigerian exporters, this means immediate duty-free access to UAE markets for fish, seafood, oil seeds, cereals, cotton, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. Within three to five years, machinery, vehicles, electrical equipment, apparel, and furniture will also enter the UAE without tariffs.

Nigeria will remove tariffs on around 6,000 products coming from the UAE. The mutual agreement creates predictable conditions for businesses on both sides to invest and grow.

President Tinubu called the deal "historic and strategic," noting it will strengthen cooperation in aviation, logistics, agriculture, and climate-smart infrastructure. The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture celebrated the agreement as a major milestone in Nigeria's economic transformation.

The Ripple Effect

This partnership reaches far beyond the two countries involved. Nigeria serves as a gateway to the Economic Community of West African States and the African Continental Free Trade Area, meaning UAE businesses now have easier access to massive regional markets.

The agreement directly supports Nigeria's Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to transform the country into a $1 trillion economy by 2030. By reducing trade barriers, it creates conditions for increased foreign investment, job creation, and industrial growth across manufacturing, agribusiness, finance, logistics, and digital sectors.

Nigerian businesses gain not just access to UAE consumers but also credibility as reliable trading partners. The predictable framework helps small and medium enterprises plan expansion, hire workers, and compete globally.

For a continent often overlooked in global trade discussions, this deal positions Nigeria as a serious player ready for partnership on equal terms.