The United Arab Emirates has reached a historic milestone in global trade, entering the world’s top 10 goods exporters for the first time in the country’s history — rising from 17th place to 9th in just five years.
The achievement was confirmed by the World Trade Organisation‘s “World Trade Prospects and Statistics” report, which showed the UAE’s total goods and services trade reaching $1.637 trillion in 2025, up from $949 billion in 2021.
Goods trade reached $1.33 trillion, with exports representing 53% of the total. Services trade hit AED 1.14 trillion — exceeding the AED 1 trillion barrier for the first time — with 61.4% of that figure comprising service exports. The trade surplus reached AED 584.1 billion in 2025, a 19% increase year-on-year.
The UAE’s contribution to global goods exports now stands at 3.3%, while in digital services — one of the fastest-growing segments — the country ranked 25th globally, generating $33 billion in exports, representing 17% of its total services trade.
Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, described the ranking as a testament to the UAE’s competitiveness and a reflection of global confidence in the economy, pledging to build on the achievement despite current geopolitical challenges.
Key enablers behind the rise include the UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) programme, which has opened barrier-free access to new markets for Emirati exporters, alongside sustained investment in logistics, technology, and regulatory reform.
However, the WTO cautioned that global trade growth is expected to slow in 2026, forecasting goods trade expansion of 1.9%, down from 4.6% in 2025, with geopolitical tensions and rising energy prices posing headwinds.
For the UAE, the ranking arrives at a telling moment — proving that long-term structural reforms can generate durable competitive advantages, even when the immediate environment is turbulent.
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