Trade

The UAE has established itself as a dynamic player in global trade, leveraging its strategic location, robust infrastructure, and business-friendly environment. The country serves as a vital gateway between East and West, facilitating seamless trade connections and fostering economic growth.

Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the UAE has demonstrated resilience in maintaining its position as a thriving trading hub. With a diversified economy, the country has successfully ensured the continuity of trade operations, avoiding major disruptions and shortages.

The UAE's strategic location has been instrumental in its trade success. Situated at the crossroads of major trade routes, the country has become a focal point for international trade flows. The UAE's world-class ports, including Jebel Ali Port, facilitate smooth maritime trade, making it an essential distribution hub.

Furthermore, the UAE has fostered strong trade partnerships worldwide through its Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) program. The country's commitment to open markets and its proactive approach to establishing bilateral trade agreements have propelled its trade volume and diversified its trading partners. The UAE's dynamic economy and business-friendly policies have attracted investments from various industries, further fueling trade growth.

With its focus on innovation and digitization, the UAE is embracing the future of trade. The country is actively developing smart trade initiatives, utilizing cutting-edge technologies to streamline processes and enhance efficiency. These efforts contribute to the UAE's goal of becoming a global leader in trade facilitation.

For more information on the UAE’s trade, see below:

UAE is the largest trading partner in MENA region for various countries

Non-oil foreign trade reached a record number of AED 2.23 trillion during 2022, a growth of 17% compared to 2021

China, India, Saudi Arabia and USA remained the most important trading partners of UAE during the year 2022

Non-oil exports achieved a record number during 2022 with a value of AED 366 billion , marking a growth of 6% compared to 2021

UAE’s non-oil exports with the top 10 trading partners grew by 7%

Gold, aluminum, oils and cigarettes remain the most important exports of the UAE, but iron exports witnessed the highest growth during the period, followed by ornaments and jewellery

Re-exports reached a record number during 2022, exceeding the AED 600 billion for the first time in UAE history marked by a growth of 14% compared to 2021

Saudi Arabia, Iraq, India and USA were the major re-export markets, collectively contributing more than 30% to the total re-exports in 2022

Telephones and diamonds are the two most important commodities for re-export, but the biggest growth came from aircraft parts, petroleum oils, headphones, and car parts

UAE imports also achieved a new record by exceeding AED 1250 billion during 2022 marked by a growth of 22% compared to 2021

The UAE’s imports from most of the main markets increased during 2022