UAE Trade: $1.1tn Target Reached Early – Non-Oil Boom
- The united Arab Emirates is experiencing a surge in UAE trade, positioning the nation to achieve its economic goals well ahead of schedule.
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, highlighted the UAE's continued progress across various sectors.
- In the first quarter of 2025, the UAE's non-oil foreign trade grew by 18.6% year-on-year, reaching AED835 billion ($227.5 billion).
The United Arab Emirates is experiencing a important UAE trade boom, putting it on track to achieve its $1.1 trillion non-oil foreign trade target by 2029, a full four years ahead of schedule. Driven by surging non-oil exports,which jumped over 40% in Q1 2025,and strategic partnerships,the UAE’s economic outlook remains exceptionally luminous.news Directory 3 covers the remarkable 18.6% year-on-year growth in non-oil foreign trade. Key partnerships with India and Saudi Arabia are bolstering the UAE’s position as a global trade hub. This diversification away from oil is setting a new economic course.Discover what’s next for this rapidly expanding economy.
UAE trade boom Forecast to Hit Targets Early
Updated June 15, 2025
The united Arab Emirates is experiencing a surge in UAE trade, positioning the nation to achieve its economic goals well ahead of schedule. Driven by robust non-oil exports and strategic partnerships, the country’s economic outlook remains strong.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, highlighted the UAE’s continued progress across various sectors. He emphasized that the nation’s booming non-oil foreign trade is central to this growth, consistently breaking records.
In the first quarter of 2025, the UAE’s non-oil foreign trade grew by 18.6% year-on-year, reaching AED835 billion ($227.5 billion). Non-oil exports saw an remarkable surge, increasing by 41% annually. This performance puts the UAE on track to reach its AED4 trillion ($1.1 trillion) non-oil foreign trade target by 2029, four years ahead of the initial 2031 goal.
In 2024, the UAE’s GDP grew by 4%, reaching AED 1.77 trillion ($482 billion), with the non-oil sector contributing 75.5% to the national economy. This diversification underscores the country’s commitment to reducing its reliance on oil revenues and fostering a lasting economic model.
“The UAE’s non-oil foreign trade saw growth of 18.6 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of this year… Our goal to grow non-oil foreign trade to AED4tn ($1.1tn) by 2031 will be achieved within the next two years,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
The UAE’s non-oil exports reached AED177.3 billion ($48.3 billion) in the first quarter of 2025, marking a 40.7% year-on-year increase. This growth propelled non-oil exports to over 21% of the UAE’s total non-oil foreign trade, outpacing the growth of both imports and re-exports.
re-exports increased by 6% annually, reaching AED189.1 billion ($51.5 billion). Imports grew by 17.2% year-on-year,reaching AED468.6 billion ($127.6 billion).Trade with the UAE’s top 10 trading partners expanded by 20.2% in the first quarter of 2025.
Notably, trade with India grew by 31%, while trade with Saudi Arabia more than doubled, increasing by 127%. Trade with Turkiye rose by 8.3%, surpassing previous records, and trade with China increased by 9.6%.These figures highlight the UAE’s strengthening economic ties with key global partners, further boosting its UAE trade position.
What’s next
Looking ahead, the UAE aims to further diversify its economy and strengthen its position as a global trade hub. Continued investment in key sectors and strategic partnerships are expected to drive sustained economic growth in the coming years, solidifying the UAE’s role in international commerce.