HE Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi

His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi is UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, a position he has held since July 2020. He is responsible for overseeing the development of non-oil foreign trade, the expansion of global trade partnerships and increasing UAE exports.

As part of his role, H.E. Al Zeyoudi leads the nation’s efforts to secure Comprehensive Economic Partnerships Agreements (CEPAs) with strategic allies around the world, which supports the UAE’s aim to boost exports by at least 50 percent by 2030. In May 2022, the first of these CEPAs, and the first ever bilateral deal         signed by the UAE, was concluded with long-standing trade and investment partner India.

H.E. Al Zeyoudi’s experience of global trade negotiations was recognized with his appointment as Chair of the 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (MC13) held in Abu Dhabi in February 2024, where he was instrumental in ensuring the successful delivery of the Abu Dhabi Declaration, a package of agreements that helped to advance open, rules-based trade.

H.E. Al Zeyoudi also leads the efforts to enhance the UAE’s investment climate and strengthen its position as a prime destination for business and investments at both regional and global levels. This includes his portfolio as Minister in Charge of Talent Attraction and Retention, in which he ensures the best global talents have the pathways, incentives and opportunities to contribute to the UAE’s long-term economic objectives.

In October 2023, His Excellency was appointed as Chairman of Board of The Emirates Drug Establishment, a newly established federal agency responsible for regulating the UAE’s pharmaceutical and medical industries, promoting research and development in this sector, and ensuring the quality, safety, and availability of medical products in the UAE.

His Excellency also serves as Vice Chairman of the Industry Development Council and Chairman of the Council’s Executive Committee, as well as Deputy Chairman of Etihad Credit Insurance’s Board of Directors. He is also a member of the Supreme Committee for the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28), the decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Prior to his appointment as the Minister of State for Foreign Trade, he served as Minister of Climate Change and Environment and supervised the implementation of the country’s strategies on climate action, agricultural development, animal husbandry and fisheries, in addition to combating desertification and preserving biodiversity.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Set the Ministry’s general policy and strategic direction concerning international trade.
• Develop, approve and follow up on the completion of the Ministry’s strategic plan and executive programs.
• Supervise the general workflow in the international trade affairs sector, approving regulatory decisions in accordance with the powers delegated to the Minister, and following up on the completion of reports.
• Prepare and implement the budget according to the set provisions and allocations.
• Propose the necessary laws, decrees, bylaws and regulations related to the international trade affairs sector and presenting them to the Minister of Economy for necessary actions.
• Represent the Ministry before the relevant authorities inside and outside the state, in coordination with the concerned authorities and in accordance with the powers vested in him.
• Sign agreements between the Ministry and other bodies, in accordance with the powers vested in him.
• Develop the strategic direction and general national policy to attract high-quality talents and the best minds to the state, fast-track the country’s shift to a knowledge-based economy, enhance science and technology capabilities, and follow-up on their implementation in coordination with concerned federal and local authorities.
• Identify priority target groups of people with the right talents and competencies, proposing and following-up on the impact of relevant policies and initiatives, and exchanging knowledge with national and global talents in coordination with concerned authorities.
• Coordinate with concerned authorities to promote the UAE as a regional and global destination for the brightest talents and the best minds.
• Establish a database of talents in coordination with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and other concerned parties.
• Perform any other tasks that are assigned to the Minister by virtue of laws, regulations, and decisions issued by the Cabinet, or assigned to him by the Minister of Economy.