Indonesia–UAE Economic Dialogue 2026 Held Amid Global Uncertainty
The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/BKPM, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Indonesia, and the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), successfully organised the Indonesia–UAE Economic Dialogue 2scale026 at the InterContinental Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday (29/09/2026).
Under the theme “From CEPA to Resilience: Strengthening Indonesia–UAE Economic Partnership Amid Global Uncertainty”, this strategic forum brought together government officials, policy experts, sovereign wealth funds, and leaders of prominent corporations from both nations to formulate concrete steps for deepening bilateral investment and trade partnerships.
The Indonesian Ambassador to the UAE, Judha Nugraha, stated in an official briefing on Wednesday (30/09/2026) the critical importance of maintaining the momentum of bilateral economic relations following the entry into force of the Indonesia–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IUAE-CEPA).
Ambassador Judha emphasised the necessity of building economic resilience and long-term partnerships amidst complex geopolitical dynamics and increasing global market uncertainty. “This cooperation does not merely expand market access, but serves as a pillar of mutual economic resilience in facing global economic shocks,” said Ambassador Judha.
A similar view was expressed by the Assistant Undersecretary for Foreign Trade Proactiveness & Readiness Sector of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade, H.E. Ayoub Abdulmalik Ahli. In his keynote speech, he affirmed the vital role of IUAE-CEPA in strengthening trade connectivity, facilitating cross-border investment, and driving collaboration between the private sectors of both countries.
Driving Downstreaming and Accelerating Strategic Investment
Cahyo Purnomo, Director of Regional Promotion for East Asia, South Asia, Middle East, and Africa at the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/BKPM, outlined the Indonesian government’s focus on attracting high-quality investment. Indonesia is prioritising the acceleration of industrial downstreaming and the strengthening of global supply chain networks.
According to him, the IUAE-CEPA framework serves as the primary foundation for expanding the scale of investment while reinforcing the national economic foundation.
During the first session, titled “Mobilising Strategic Investment: Building a Future-Oriented Indonesia–UAE Economic Partnership”, discussions highlighted the exploration of new investment opportunities, digital transformation, future infrastructure development, and the effectiveness of sovereign investment institutions. The session featured key speakers including the Executive Director of CSIS Indonesia, Dr Yose Rizal Damuri; Senior Research Fellow at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, Dr Damyana Bakardzhieva; Chairman & CEO of the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA), Oki Ramadhana; and Vice President of Procurement at Damac Digital, Philip Smallman.
Optimising IUAE-CEPA and Supply Chain Resilience
In the second session, themed “Strategic Trade Partnership under IUAE-CEPA: Navigating Global Uncertainty and Unlocking New Opportunities”, panellists analysed the use of IUAE-CEPA to mitigate global risks. The discussion, moderated by CSIS researcher Farhan Julianto, featured Dr Riandy Laksono (CSIS Indonesia), Rawia Alblooshi (ECSSR), Khalfan AlMuhairi (Borouge), and Rizky HW Bahanadewa (Samudera Shipping Line Ltd).
Experts agreed that stakeholders from both nations must move swiftly from merely utilising market access agreements to concrete execution and implementation. This includes simplifying investment facilitation, harmonising regulations, aligning inter-agency cooperation, and active private sector involvement to realise tangible benefits for businesses in both Indonesia and the UAE.
Nova Herlangga Masrie, Director of the Indonesia Investment Promotion Centre (IIPC) in Abu Dhabi, concluded the dialogue by reaffirming the Indonesian government’s ongoing commitment to overseeing every policy recommendation to ensure they transform into real investment projects and trade transactions.
Bilateral relations between Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates have experienced significant acceleration since the signing of the IUAE-CEPA agreement in mid-2022, which was officially implemented in 2023. The UAE remains one of Indonesia’s key investment partners from the Middle East, with strategic investment coverage expanding into renewable energy, port infrastructure, data centre networks, and food security.
Amidst the escalation of regional geopolitical conflicts and global trade fragmentation in 2026, the Indonesia–UAE Economic Dialogue 2026 serves as a crucial forum to ensure that the established commercial cooperation framework can adapt flexibly, strengthen supply chain competitiveness, and guarantee sustainable economic growth for both nations.