Abu Dhabi. The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with the Ministry of Investment and Downstream Industry/Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Indonesia, and the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), hosted the Indonesia-UAE Economic Dialogue 2026 at the InterContinental Abu Dhabi.

Held under the theme “From CEPA to Resilience: Strengthening Indonesia-UAE Economic Partnership Amid Global Uncertainty,” the dialogue brought together government officials, policy experts, sovereign investment institutions, leading companies, and business stakeholders from both countries to identify practical ways to deepen bilateral investment and trade cooperation.

Opening the dialogue, Judha Nugraha, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Arab Emirates, emphasized the importance of sustaining the momentum of Indonesia-UAE economic relations following the entry into force of the Indonesia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IUAE-CEPA). He highlighted the growing importance of economic resilience and long-term partnerships as both countries navigate evolving geopolitical and economic challenges.

In his keynote address, Ayoub Abdulmalik Ahli, Assistant Undersecretary for the Foreign Trade Proactiveness & Readiness Sector at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade, highlighted the growing strategic importance of Indonesia-UAE economic cooperation and the role of IUAE-CEPA in strengthening commercial connectivity, investment flows, and private-sector collaboration between the two countries.

Cahyo Purnomo, Director for Investment Promotion for East Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa at the Ministry of Investment and Downstream Industry/BKPM, delivered introductory remarks for the investment and trade sessions. He outlined Indonesia’s priorities in attracting quality investment, accelerating downstream industrial development, and strengthening international economic partnerships, while underscoring IUAE-CEPA as an important platform for expanding trade and investment and enhancing economic resilience.

The first session, “Mobilizing Strategic Investment: Building a Future-Oriented Indonesia-UAE Economic Partnership,” featured Yose Rizal Damuri, Executive Director of CSIS Indonesia; Damyana Bakardzhieva, Senior Research Fellow at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy; Oki Ramadhana, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA); and Philip Smallman, Vice President of Procurement at Damac Digital.

Moderated by Abdallah Almansoori, Advisor for Institutional Investment & Economic Strategy, the session explored emerging investment opportunities, sovereign investment partnerships, digital transformation, infrastructure development, and the evolving role of institutional investors in strengthening bilateral economic ties.

The second session, “Strategic Trade Partnership under IUAE-CEPA: Navigating Global Uncertainty and Unlocking New Opportunities,” brought together Dr. Riandy Laksono of CSIS Indonesia; Ms. Rawia Alblooshi of ECSSR; Mr. Khalfan AlMuhairi, Senior Vice President for the Middle East, Africa, and Eurasia (MEAE) region at Borouge; and Mr. Rizky HW Bahanadewa, Executive Vice President and Middle East Representative at Samudera Shipping Line Ltd.

Moderated by Farhan Julianto, Researcher at the Department of International Relations at CSIS Indonesia, the discussion examined how IUAE-CEPA can be further leveraged to expand bilateral trade, strengthen supply-chain resilience, support market diversification, and create new business opportunities amid global economic uncertainty.

A key message emerging from the dialogue was the need to move from market access to implementation. Participants highlighted the importance of stronger investment facilitation, regulatory cooperation, institutional engagement, and closer private-sector collaboration to ensure that the opportunities created by IUAE-CEPA translate into tangible outcomes for businesses and investors in both countries.

At the close of the event, Nova Herlangga Masrie, Director of the Indonesia Investment Promotion Center (IIPC) Abu Dhabi, reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with UAE stakeholders. He highlighted the importance of sustained collaboration among governments, think tanks, investors, and the private sector in translating policy dialogue into concrete initiatives.

The Indonesia-UAE Economic Dialogue 2026 reflects the shared commitment of Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates to building a more resilient, forward-looking, and mutually beneficial economic partnership by leveraging IUAE-CEPA and responding jointly to emerging regional and global economic challenges.

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