Xifres de comerç exterior dels Emirats Àrabs Units

Foreign Trade in Figures

The United Arab Emirates is among the world’s most dynamic markets in terms of foreign trade, which accounts for 167% of the GDP according to the latest available data from World Bank. The country is one of the world's top 20 largest exporters and importers of commodities and the largest trading nation in the Middle East. According to the World Trade Outlook and Statistics report by the WTO, in 2022, the UAE ranked 11th globally in goods exports, totalling USD 599 billion, representing 2.4% of global merchandise exports and a growth of 41%. The country also ranked 18th in merchandise imports, reaching USD 425 billion, contributing to 1.7% of world merchandise imports, with a 22% increase. In the realm of services, the UAE was ranked 12th globally in service exports in 2022, amounting to USD 154 billion, making up 2.2% of the world's total service exports. Additionally, the country secured the 18th spot in service imports, totalling USD 95 billion, constituting 1.5% of global service imports. Oil products are by far the largest item of exports (the country is the world’s 4th oil exporter), followed by gold, telephone sets, diamonds, and motor cars. Gold is also among the major imports, along with telephones, diamonds, and motor cars (data Comtrade).

Saudi Arabia is the top destination of Emirati exports (5.4%), followed by India (4.9%), Iraq (4.2%), the U.S. (2.2%), Oman (2.1%), and Hong Kong (2%). China (16%), India (6.5%), the United States (5.1%), Japan (2.9%) and Turkey (2.3%) are among the UAE's main suppliers of goods and services (data Comtrade 2022). Recently, the country signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements with Indonesia and India, with more agreements under discussion with partners like Turkey, Colombia, Ukraine, Cambodia, etc.

The United Arab Emirates has a structurally positive trade balance, but the surplus is closely linked to global oil prices. In 2022, the country recorded a trade surplus accounting for 25.3% of its GDP (World Bank). Preliminary estimates by the UAE government indicate that non-oil foreign trade reached a record AED 1.239 trillion in H1 2023, representing a growth of 14.4% compared to the same period in 2022 and 3% more than H2 2022. The contribution of non-oil exports to the UAE's total foreign trade was 16.6% in H1 2023. Re-exports and imports in the UAE also saw notable expansions: the total value of re-exports amounted to AED 341 billion, marking a 9.9% growth compared to H1 2022 and a 2.2% increase from the second half of 2022. Imports surged to AED 693 billion, indicating a 17.5% rise compared to H1 2022 and a 2.6% uptick from the second half of 2022. China maintained its status as the top global trading partner for the UAE, with India, the U.S., and Saudi Arabia following closely behind.