The United Arab Emirates has reached a historic milestone, climbing to become the ninth largest exporter of goods globally and the 13th largest importer, according to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, Thani Al Zeyoudi, described the achievement as a testament to the country’s competitiveness and a reflection of confidence in its economy. “Despite the current geopolitical challenges, we are determined to build on this success and cement our position on the global trade map,” he said.
The WTO report highlighted exceptional growth in the UAE’s foreign trade in services, which is expected to reach Dh1.14 trillion in 2025, surpassing the Dh1 trillion mark for the first time. The country now contributes 3.3 percent of global goods exports and 2.8 percent of goods imports, while accounting for 2 percent of global services exports and 1.4 percent of services imports.
Trade agreements have played a central role in strengthening the UAE’s international ties. The country has signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA) with 15 nations, beginning with India in 2022. These agreements provide enhanced market access, reduce tariffs, simplify customs procedures, and promote rules-based competition. The UAE aims to position itself as a global trade and logistics hub, and these partnerships are key to that strategy.
Digital services have emerged as a rapidly growing sector for the UAE. The country ranked 25th globally in digital services exports, generating US$33 billion (Dh121.19 billion), representing 0.6 percent of global digital services exports. This sector now accounts for 17 percent of the UAE’s total services exports, highlighting its expanding role in the economy.
The UAE’s main export remains crude oil, valued at $114 billion (Dh418 billion) in 2024. Non-oil sectors are also contributing significantly, including metals, building materials, financial services, gold and precious metals, defence, food, logistics, renewables, educational services, petrochemicals, plastics, hotel and tourism services, and innovation-driven e-services.
The WTO report noted that global trade is likely to face a slowdown due to geopolitical tensions, which have disrupted key trade routes and contributed to rising oil prices. Goods trade growth is expected to ease to 1.9 percent in 2026, down from 4.6 percent in 2025, while services trade growth may slow to 4.8 percent before rebounding to 5.1 percent in 2027. Continued energy price increases could push goods trade growth down to 1.4 percent and services growth to 4.1 percent in 2026.
Despite these challenges, the UAE’s rising position in global trade reflects its strategic economic diversification, strong investment in technology and logistics, and commitment to fostering international partnerships.
