ArmInfo. On October 21, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economic Affairs approved the ratification of the Agreement on Trade in Services and Investments between the Government of the Republic of Armenia (RA) and the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Presenting the details of the agreement, Armenian Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan recalled that the document was signed in February of this year and is aimed at liberalizing trade, investment, and services between Armenia and the UAE, mutually eliminating barriers in these areas, creating favorable conditions for expanding economic cooperation, promoting the intensification of bilateral relations, and identifying new markets. The agreement also provides for the possibility of operating in 122 areas, including computer and IT services, scientific and technical consulting, equipment maintenance and repair, cartography, telecommunications, healthcare, postal services, etc. At the same time, the minister praised 2026 for trade and economic cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and the UAE, calling it the best year yet, despite the fact that volumes were higher in previous years. He cited 2024 as an example, but noted that he was talking about gold at that time. But in terms of economic impact, according to Papoyan, this had no effect, just as the cessation of gold supplies (re-export - ed.) was not felt.
According to the results of the first nine months of this year, exports of goods of Armenian origin to the UAE alone increased by 30%, amounting to $130 million. This was facilitated, as he noted, by a number of factors, including a significant increase in the supply of fresh agricultural produce (peaches, apricots, cherries, blueberries, strawberries, pomegranates, kiwis, etc.). He acknowledged that the supply volumes themselves are small, but such growth is impressive.
It is worth noting that, according to the Statistics Committee, the volume of mutual trade between Armenia and the UAE in January-August 2026 was... decreased by 69.5%, amounting to $399.9 million. At the same time, exports decreased by 71.1% to $363.7 million, against the backdrop of a decline in imports by 28.7% to $36.2 million.
