The United Arab Emirates has achieved a landmark economic milestone, with non-oil foreign trade exceeding AED 3.8 trillion ($1.03 trillion) for the first time in 2025, marking a 26.8% annual increase and reaching targets set for 2031 five years ahead of schedule.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, announced these historic figures, highlighting that non-oil exports reached AED 813.8 billion—a remarkable 45.5% year-on-year surge. The achievement underscores the UAE’s successful economic diversification away from hydrocarbon dependency.
The final quarter of 2025 alone witnessed extraordinary performance, with non-oil trade surpassing AED 1 trillion within three months for the first time. Exports during this quarter totaled AED 234.4 billion, reflecting 53.2% growth compared to the same period in 2024.
Non-oil exports now constitute 21.6% of total trade, up from 18.8% in 2024 and just 14.1% in 2019, demonstrating the accelerating shift in the UAE’s economic composition. Re-exports reached AED 830.2 billion with 15.7% growth, while imports exceeded AED 2.1 trillion, rising 25.7% year-on-year.
The UAE’s performance significantly outpaced global trade growth, which averaged approximately 1.75% during the same period. Key export destinations included Switzerland, India, Turkey, and Hong Kong, with countries covered by Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements accounting for 21.6% of UAE exports.
Sheikh Mohammed credited the milestone to the UAE’s developed investment ecosystem, doubled international partnerships, and strengthened private sector collaboration. The UAE Central Bank projects 5.2% economic growth for 2026, driven by continued expansion in both hydrocarbon and non-oil sectors.
Top exported goods included gold and jewelry, aluminum, refined petroleum products, and polymers, while imports were dominated by gold, mobile phones, vehicles, and computers, reflecting the nation’s position as a major global trade hub.
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