Japan: Japan and United Arab Emirates concluded negotiations on Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement including cross-border data transfer regulation

On 5 March 2026, Japan and the United Arab Emirates adopted the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), including provisions on digital trade. The agreement allows the transfer of data between the two countries and prohibits requirements for locating servers or other computing facilities within a specific territory. The agreement also covers other areas of digital governance, trade in services, customs procedures, and subsidies to strengthen supply chains.