Dubai’s Ruler, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, said the country has finalised the development of its investment ecosystem, expanded global partnerships, deepened private-sector collaboration, and reinforced international confidence in the UAE.
He said that, after reviewing the country’s foreign trade report, the UAE’s non-oil external trade surpassed $1 trillion (AED3.8 trillion) for the first time, rising 26.8% from the previous year. Non-oil exports exceeded AED813 billion, registering strong annual growth of 45.5%.
Sheikh Mohammed noted that these achievements were part of targets set three years ago for completion by 2031, adding that 95% of those goals have already been met five years ahead of schedule. He credited the country’s progress to a strengthened investment landscape, expanded international and private-sector partnerships, and growing global trust in the UAE. He also urged national teams to further intensify their efforts and deepen cooperation with private businesses to support future economic growth.
The UAE’s non-oil foreign trade reached approximately AED3.8 trillion ($1.03 trillion) in 2025, representing growth of 27% from 2024 and 44.3% from 2023. Trade volumes also climbed 65% and 97.4% compared with 2022 and 2021, respectively, nearly doubling levels recorded in 2021 and more than doubling 2019 figures.
During the fourth quarter of 2025, non-oil trade exceeded AED1.1 trillion for the first time, reflecting 33.1% growth. This performance was driven by record non-oil exports, which totalled AED234.4 billion during the quarter, increasing 53.2% year-on-year and 12% from the third quarter.
By the end of 2025, exports accounted for 21.6% of total non-oil trade, up from 18.8% in 2024, 16.5% in 2022, and 14.1% in 2019.
Non-oil exports reached AED813.8 billion in 2025, growing more than 45.5% from 2024 and 85% from 2023. The segment has consistently expanded in recent years, exceeding three times the export value recorded in 2019 and more than doubling levels seen in 2021 and 2022. Non-oil exports also surpassed targets under the “We the UAE 2031” strategy by more than AED13.8 billion.
Exports to 14 countries with active Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) totalled AED175.5 billion by the end of 2025, representing 18.2% growth and accounting for 21.6% of the UAE’s global exports.
Key non-oil export products included gold and jewellery, aluminium, cigarettes, refined petroleum products, ethylene polymers, copper wires, precious metal compounds, polypropylene polymers, and perfumes. These products collectively grew 64.5% compared with 2024, with the strongest gains recorded in precious metal compounds, plastics, gold and jewellery, perfumes, aluminium, and copper wires.
Re-exports reached AED830.2 billion ($226 billion) by the end of 2025, rising 15.7% year-on-year, alongside growth of 21.3% and 29% compared with 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Non-oil imports exceeded AED2.1 trillion ($577.6 billion) in 2025, increasing 25.7% from 2024. Imports rose 27.2% among the UAE’s top 10 trading partners and 23.3% with other countries. Major imported items included gold, mobile phones, automobiles, petroleum products, jewellery, diamonds, and computers. The top 10 import categories recorded 32.4% growth, whilst other imports expanded by 16%.
The final quarter of 2025 delivered record results, with non-oil trade surpassing AED1 trillion for the first time in a single three-month period from October to December, reaching AED1.1 trillion. This represented growth of 33.1% compared with the same period in 2024 and 16% from the third quarter of 2025.
Non-oil exports in the fourth quarter alone reached AED234.4 billion, matching the UAE’s total non-oil exports for the entire year of 2019. This marked an increase of 53.2% year-on-year and 12% from the previous quarter.
Click here for more on Finance and Investing
