Yaoundé, Cameroon - 30th March, 2026: The UAE participated in the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), held in the capital of Cameroon, Yaoundé. The UAE delegation was led by His Excellency Fahad Al Gergawi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Trade, and included officials from the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, and the UAE’s representation to the World Trade Organization in Geneva.

At the conference, H.E. Al Gergawi emphasized that restrictive trade measures threaten to fragment the global economy, weaken economic growth, and elevate both inflationary pressures and unemployment rates. The UAE also sought to mobilize international support to maintain international trade flows and enhance the resilience of the global economy in the face of current events.

HE Al Gergawi said: “The UAE’s participation at MC14 comes at the backdrop of profound transformations and unprecedented challenges facing the global trading system. With the risks associated with trade wars and tariffs increasing, and barriers to the flow of goods reappearing, the UAE remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the benefits of open, rules-based trade. Our participation in Cameroon reflects the UAE's status as a key player in international trade and our desire to build consensus around pro-trade, anti-protectionist measures.”

HE Al Gergawi added that the UAE’s openness to the world, and its full integration into global supply chains, can serve as a model for other countries, especially in light of the country’s record trade growth. In 2025, the UAE's non-oil foreign trade reached AED 3.8 trillion (US$1.03 trillion), which represents a growth of 27% over 2024. This increase was supported by a substantial increase in non-oil exports and facilitated by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) program, which provides UAE exporters with seamless access to one quarter of the world’s population.

The UAE delegation also used the opportunity of MC14 to strengthen its partnerships and explore new horizons for trade cooperation with African countries. On the sidelines of the 14th Ministerial Conference, the UAE delegation also held a series of bilateral meetings, including with representatives from Austria, the Bahamas, New Zealand, Peru, Guatemala and Costa Rica, among others.

The Ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making body in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and brings together trade ministers and senior officials from the 166 member states. This year's edition is of particular significance, as it is the second to be hosted by an African country after the 10th Conference in Nairobi, Kenya in 2015, highlighting the growing interest in the African continent's role in the multilateral trading system.