Canada and the United Arab Emirates have signed a comprehensive trade and infrastructure pact in Ottawa, formalizing a rapid economic alignment as Prime Minister Mark Carney works to diversify trade. The agreements span clean power, critical minerals, and diplomatic training, following a visit by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
The visiting leader, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, arrived in Ottawa on October 26, 2026, for a two-day visit. His motorcade rolled onto Parliament Hill accompanied by four Royal Canadian Mounted Police horses before formal talks with Carney. Ministers from both nations finalized the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), following negotiations concluded in July 2026 within 47 days, according to the Prime Minister of Canada’s office.
Corporate Elite Gather for State Dinner
The diplomatic push drew heavy corporate backing. The Globe and Mail reported that Carney hosted a dinner in Ottawa on Monday for nearly 120 guests, bringing together top Emirati officials and prominent Canadian business leaders. Among those on the guest list were André Desmarais and Paul Desmarais III of Power Corporation of Canada, alongside executives from institutional investors and aerospace firms.
A Historic Milestone in UAE-Canada Relations. 🇨🇦🤝🇦🇪H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has arrived in Ottawa to begin an official visit to Canada.Upon arrival at Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, His Highness was… pic.twitter.com/lsDDc7JTKF
The Emirati delegation included high-ranking figures from the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court and state enterprises. Sultan Al Jaber, the UAE’s minister of industry and advanced technology and chief executive of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., attended alongside senior diplomatic and military attachés.
The $70 Billion Investment Pledge and Trade Realities
The economic framework builds on substantial capital commitments, which included discussions around a $1-billion project to expand critical minerals processing capacity in Canada. International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu noted that a broader $70 billion investment pledge from the UAE could soon be deployed across Canadian mining, logistics, energy, and digital technology.
The pivot toward Gulf economies comes as U.S. tariffs ripple through the domestic market and attempts to secure trade terms with Washington have stalled. Carney has vowed to double Ottawa’s non-U.S. trade over the next decade, pursuing agreements across the Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East.
Questions Remain on Human Rights and Parliamentary Ratification
While the trade pact clears the final step before parliamentary ratification in Ottawa, federal officials faced questions regarding human rights concerns tied to the UAE. Asked about these issues during Tuesday’s briefings, Sidhu maintained that engagement remains active, stating that human rights never takes a back seat with Canada.
