Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Wednesday, Nov 05, 2025

UAE An Exception In Global Trade, Economy: Mohammed Bin Rashid

UAE An Exception In Global Trade, Economy: Mohammed Bin Rashid

The UAE's foreign non-oil trade created another record in the first nine months of 2022, totalling over AED1.6 trillion, a rise of 19 percent compared to the same period in 2021.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, said that despite the predictions of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) of a 3.5 percent decline in international trade this year, the UAE achieved a growth of 19 percent in the first nine months of the year.

He also expects the country's foreign trade to grow to AED2.2 trillion by end of 2022.

“The UAE is an exception in global trade and economy, as well as in services, infrastructure and international relations,” he said, expressing optimism for a strong new year.

A report by the Ministry of Economy on the country's non-oil foreign trade for the first nine months of this year showed that non-oil exports maintained their strong performance during this period, amounting to AED275 billion, an increase of nine percent compared to the same period in 2021, and an increase of 43 percent, 53 percent, 73 percent and 99 percent compared to the same period in 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.

Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said that the outcomes achieved by the country's non-oil foreign trade confirm the success of the commercial and economic policies adopted by the UAE, guided by the forward-looking vision of its leadership.

He also noted that the economic developments that took place under the framework of the Projects of the 50 have strengthened the country's foreign trade performance, due to accelerating the pace of signings of trade agreements and growing partnerships with global markets, adding that the strategic location of the UAE as a logistics gateway allows access to the region's markets, which have also supported this process.

“Today, we are seeing a new achievement to be added to the country's foreign trade sector, boosting its prominent stature on the world trade map,” Al Zeyoudi further added.

Emirati re-export, import indexes

Trade data for the first nine months of 2022 showed that the total value of re-exports was AED456 billion, an increase of 19 percent compared to the same period in 2021, and 54 percent compared to the same period in 2020 while imports exceeded AED906 billion, an increase of 22.2 percent compared to the same period in 2021.

The report also noted that the re-exportation of goods helped achieve positive results that strengthened the UAE's stature on the world trade map, as it is one of the most important commercial centres that support the flow of goods to and from international markets.

Monthly performance of Emirati non-oil trade

The monthly performance of the UAE's non-oil foreign trade sector is witnessing strong growth this year, and the country recorded a value of AED202.9 billion in March, and AED204.2 billion in September. The UAE's non-oil trade could reach a value of AED2.2 trillion in 2022 and 2023.

Quarterly performance of Emirati non-oil trade

Non-oil foreign trade achieved over AED583 billion during the third quarter of 2022, an increase of 11 percent compared to the second quarter of this year, and an increase of 23 percent compared to the third quarter of 2021.

In the third quarter of 2022, Emirati exports continued their positive performance to achieve nearly AED100 billion, an increase of 11 percent compared to the second quarter of this year, and a rise of 12 percent compared to the third quarter of 2021.

Re-exports in the UAE amounted to AED160 billion, an increase of six percent compared to the second quarter of 2022, and an increase of 17 percent compared to the third quarter of 2021.

The UAE's imports amounted to AED326 billion, an increase of 13 percent compared to the second quarter of 2022, and an increase of 29 percent compared to the third quarter of 2021.

Trade partners

The report highlighted the fact that China is on top of the list of the UAE's trading partners, followed by India, Saudi Arabia, the United States (US), Iraq, and Türkiye.

They were followed by India, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Turkey, Hong Kong – China, and Oman as the top recipients of the UAE's non-oil exports during the first nine months of 2022.

As for the UAE's imports, China, India, the US, Japan, Türkiye, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia come at the top of this list.

The report pointed out that non-Arab Asian countries are the main and first partners in the non-oil trade of the UAE during the first nine months of 2022, which account for 39 percent of the country's non-oil trade, 38 percent of its exports, 29 percent of re-exports, and 44.4 percent of the UAE non-oil imports.

While the European countries came in second place, they were followed by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the non-Arab African countries, the other Arab countries, and the group of American countries.

UAE-India trade exchange under CEPA

As the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the UAE and India came into force from May to September 2022, mutual trade exchange reached AED79 billion, an increase of 23 percent compared to the same period in 2021, an increase of 133 percent compared to 2020.

Non-oil exports to India amounted to about AED20 billion, an increase of 12 percent compared to the same period in 2021, and over 154 percent and 112 percent compared to the same period in 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Saudi Arabia Pauses Major Stretch of ‘The Line’ Megacity Amid Budget Re-Prioritisation
Saudi Arabia Launches Instant e-Visa Platform for Over 60 Countries
Dick Cheney, Former U.S. Vice President, Dies at 84
Saudi Crown Prince to Visit Trump at White House on November Eighteenth
Trump Predicts Saudi Arabia Will Normalise with Israel Ahead of 18 November Riyadh Visit
Entrepreneurial Momentum in Saudi Arabia Shines at Riyadh Forward 2025 Summit
Saudi Arabia to Host First-Ever International WrestleMania in 2027
Saudi Arabia to Host New ATP Masters Tournament from 2028
Trump Doubts Saudi Demand for Palestinian State Before Israel Normalisation
Viral ‘Sky Stadium’ for Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup Debunked as AI-Generated
Deal Between Saudi Arabia and Israel ‘Virtually Impossible’ This Year, Kingdom Insider Says
Saudi Crown Prince to Visit Washington While Israel Recognition Remains Off-Table
Saudi Arabia Poised to Channel Billions into Syria’s Reconstruction as U.S. Sanctions Linger
Smotrich’s ‘Camels’ Remark Tests Saudi–Israel Normalisation Efforts
Saudi Arabia and Qatar Gain Structural Edge in Asian World Cup Qualification
Israeli Energy Minister Delays $35 Billion Gas Export Agreement with Egypt
Fincantieri and Saudi Arabia Agree to Build Advanced Maritime Ecosystem in Kingdom
Saudi Arabia’s HUMAIN Accelerates AI Ambitions Through Major Partnerships and Infrastructure Push
IOC and Saudi Arabia End Ambitious 12-Year Esports Games Partnership
CSL Seqirus Signs Saudi Arabia Pact to Provide Cell-Based Flu Vaccines and Build Local Production
Qualcomm and Saudi Arabia’s HUMAIN Team Up to Deploy 200 MW AI Infrastructure
Saudi Arabia’s Economy Expands Five Percent in Third Quarter Amid Oil Output Surge
China’s Vice President Han Zheng Meets Saudi Crown Prince as Trade Concerns Loom
Saudi Arabia Unveils Vision for First-Ever "Sky Stadium" Suspended Over Desert Floor
Francis Ford Coppola Auctions Luxury Watches After Self-Financed Film Flop
US and Qatar Warn EU of Trade and Energy Risks from Tough Climate Regulation
‘No Kings’ Protests Inflate Numbers — But History Shows Nations Collapse Without Strong Executive Power
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Yachts, Private Jets, and a Picasso Painting: Exposed as 'One of the Largest Frauds in History'
AI and Cybersecurity at Forefront as GITEX Global 2025 Kicks Off in Dubai
EU Deploys New Biometric Entry/Exit System: What Non-EU Travelers Must Know
Ex-Microsoft Engineer Confirms Famous Windows XP Key Was Leaked Corporate License, Not a Hack
China’s lesson for the US: it takes more than chips to win the AI race
Israel and Hamas Agree to First Phase of Trump-Brokered Gaza Truce, Hostages to Be Freed
The Davos Set in Decline: Why the World Economic Forum’s Power Must Be Challenged
Wave of Complaints Against Apple Over iPhone 17 Pro’s Scratch Sensitivity
Syria Holds First Elections Since Fall of Assad
Altman Says GPT-5 Already Outpaces Him, Warns AI Could Automate 40% of Work
Trump Organization Teams with Saudi Developer on $1 Billion Trump Plaza in Jeddah
Electronic Arts to Be Taken Private in Historic $55 Billion Buyout
Colombian President Petro Vows to Mobilize Volunteers for Gaza and Joins List of Fighters
Nvidia and Abu Dhabi’s TII Launch First AI-&-Robotics Lab in the Middle East
UK, Canada, and Australia Officially Recognise Palestine in Historic Shift
New Eye Drops Show Promise in Replacing Reading Glasses for Presbyopia
Dubai Property Boom Shows Strain as Flippers Get Buyer’s Remorse
Top AI Researchers Are Heading Back to China as U.S. Struggles to Keep Pace
JWST Data Brings TRAPPIST-1e Closer to Earth-Like Habitability
UAE-US Stargate Project Poised to Make Abu Dhabi a Global AI Powerhouse
Trump and Starmer Clash Over UK Recognition of Palestinian State Amid State Visit
×