The UAE’s Trade Ascendancy: Non-Oil Commerce Surges Toward AED 3 Trillion Milestone

Record exports and expanding global partnerships propel the Emirates' non-oil foreign trade to unprecedented heights, cementing its role as a central hub in the shifting architecture of international commerce.

The rhythm of global trade flows through the UAE with an accelerating momentum. In the first nine months of 2026, the nation’s non-oil foreign trade reached AED 2.945 trillion, a figure that speaks not merely in statistics but in the tangible expansion of economic possibility. This represents a 10.1 per cent increase on the same period the previous year, and for the first time in its history, the UAE approaches the AED 3 trillion threshold within a single nine-month window.

What distinguishes this moment is not simply the scale of the achievement, but its composition. Non-oil exports surged to AED 706 billion, climbing 21.6 per cent year on year. In September 2026, monthly exports breached the AED 100 billion barrier for the first time, a symbolic crossing that reflects the deepening sophistication and reach of Emirati commerce beyond the hydrocarbon sector. Imports climbed to AED 1.661 trillion, up 11.5 per cent, whilst re-exports totalled AED 578 billion.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, observed that this performance unfolds amid a year of considerable economic and political complexity. “In a year of economic and political challenges and shifting global trade flows, the UAE remains a central hub for international trade,” he noted. The resilience embedded in these figures reflects a deliberate strategy, one built upon the cultivation of diverse partnerships and the methodical expansion into new markets. Exports to the nation’s top ten trading partners grew by 31 per cent, a growth trajectory that distinguishes itself even within the broader picture of expansion.

Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, credited the achievement to the foresight of the UAE leadership and the effectiveness of its trade policies. The historic performance, he explained, demonstrates the capacity of the UAE’s trade ecosystem to adapt with agility, accelerate goods flows and respond to shifts in the international environment. This adaptive capacity has been cultivated through diversified partnerships, the development of new trade routes and the strengthening of supply chain resilience.

The geographic breadth of the UAE’s trading network continues to widen. Switzerland, Hong Kong and India emerged as the leading export destinations, with shipments to Switzerland rising 75.8 per cent and to Hong Kong climbing 59.1 per cent. The composition of exports reflects the nation’s economic diversity: gold, jewellery and tobacco products led the list of exported goods, with the top ten commodities rising 35.8 per cent year on year.

Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements have emerged as cornerstone instruments in this expansion. As the UAE continues to emphasise manufacturing and economic diversification as strategic pillars, these trade agreements function as the mechanisms through which new markets open and trade barriers lower. Trade with the 23 countries covered by 19 CEPAs currently in force reached approximately AED 510.8 billion in the first nine months, up 6.6 per cent on the same period of 2024.

The trajectory from a broader historical perspective illuminates the transformation at work. Compared with the first nine months of 2024, non-oil foreign trade has grown 37.2 per cent. Compared with 2023, the growth reaches 55.2 per cent. In 2019, the same nine-month period recorded merely AED 1.3 trillion. This sustained upward movement reflects the deliberate construction of a broad network of trade and economic partnerships, and the nation’s deepening openness to global markets.

Re-exports demonstrate the UAE’s standing as a distribution hub of genuine consequence. Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Oman led as destinations for re-exported goods, with re-exports to Oman rising 71.5 per cent year on year. Telephone sets, diamonds and automobiles topped the list of re-exported commodities, evidence of the sophistication and scope of goods flowing through Emirati distribution networks.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

These trade dynamics translate into tangible economic vitality for Abu Dhabi and its people. The expansion of non-oil exports reflects the growing competitiveness of Emirati enterprises in global markets, creating employment opportunities and encouraging continued investment in new sectors and capabilities. The strengthening of trade relationships, particularly through CEPAs, opens pathways for Emirati businesses to access consumers and partners across wider geographies, reinforcing the economic foundation upon which the emirate’s future prosperity rests.

For Abu Dhabi specifically, this diversification of the nation’s economic base complements the emirate’s strategic vision of balanced development. As non-oil foreign trade approaches record thresholds, the diversification of revenue streams and economic activity across the federation provides stability and resilience. The cultivation of these trading partnerships and the expansion of manufacturing capacity underscore a shared commitment to building an economy that is both robust and forward-looking, capable of adapting to the shifting currents of global commerce whilst maintaining the sophistication and stability that characterise the Emirates’ approach to economic stewardship.

Source: WAM