As of 1 October 2025, the Australia-UAE CEPA has formally entered into force, eliminating tariffs on more than 99 % of Australian goods exports to the UAE and unlocking fresh trade and logistics potential across the region.

Key outcomes & implications for shippers

• Tariff elimination: From day one, duties on major Australian export categories like red meat, dairy, canola seed, honey, grains, and seed pulses into the UAE have been removed — translating into more competitive volumes and new export flows.
• Services & supply chains unlocked: The CEPA goes beyond goods. It locks access for Australian service suppliers, custodians of digital trade, logistics, and warehousing services, providing easier entry into the UAE market.
• Investment & infrastructure: With chapters on investment, data centres, green energy and minerals, the agreement opens pathways for cargo flows tied to capital goods, project-logistics and inbound imports into Australia via the UAE hub.
• UAE as a regional gateway: The UAE functions as a major global logistics and trans-shipment hub. For ICE, this means the Australia-UAE corridor can serve both as a destination for Australian exports and as a routing hub for Australian imports from the Middle East and beyon, offering strategic alternatives to traditional Asia-Pacific only routes.

What ICE clients should know

• If you export from Australia to the Middle East (or import into Australia via Middle East), ICE can advise on leveraging the CEPA benefits and choosing cost-effective sea or air freight routes through UAE hubs (Dubai, Abu Dhabi).
• For our European customers (including Germany-Australia lanes), this expands possibilities: consider pre-positioning in the UAE, using inter-modal links, or using the UAE as part of your multi-leg supply chain into Australia to capitalise on that duty-free entry.
• Logistics implications: More cargo and complex routing means greater emphasis on customs compliance, rules of origin, certification and supply chain visibility. ICE is ready to support with documentation and strategic routing planning.
• Finally: As global trade flows evolve, the Australia-UAE CEPA strengthens the case for agile logistics partners. ICE’s network and expertise (Europe-Australia, Middle East-Australia) puts us in a strong spot for clients looking to diversify markets and transport corridors.

In summary

Use this new agreement as a trigger to review your supply-chain routes, tap into the UAE gateway, and move cargo smarter across the Europe-Australia and Middle East-Australia axes.

If you’d like a tailored shipment cost estimate or routing proposal that specifically reflects CEPA benefits, reach out to your local ICE branch at
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]