Mohammed bin Rashid: UAE non-oil foreign trade exceeded AED1.7 trillion in H1 2025
In a tweet on the "X" platform, His Highness said, "Today, I reviewed our non-oil foreign trade data for the first half of 2025. In the first six months of this year, we achieved more than AED1.7 trillion, with a record growth of 24% compared to the first half of 2024, which itself was an exceptional year for our national economy. We recorded double what we achieved in the first half of 2021 and continued the unprecedented boom in our trade with historic growth rates of 59.5% and 37.8% compared to the first half of 2022 and 2023, respectively.'
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum added, 'In September 2021, we launched the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) programme to expand our network of trading partners around the world. Our non-oil foreign trade continues to reap the benefits of this programme, under which we have concluded 28 agreements to date, 10 of which have entered into force. This means we can offer unhindered customs access to markets where nearly 3 billion consumers live.'
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum praised the UAE's non-oil exports, which increased their contribution to total non-oil foreign trade to 21.4% for the first time in the country's history, compared to 18.4% in the first half of 2024.
The UAE's non-oil foreign trade for the period from January 1 to June 30 2025 showed the continuation of its upward trajectory, recording about AED1.728 trillion (equivalent to USD$470.3 billion), with a growth of 24% year-on-year, compared to the first half of 2024, and growth on a semi-annual basis of 9.1% compared to the second half of 2024.
The UAE's non-oil foreign trade continued to achieve record and unprecedented growth rates, recording an increase of 37.8% and 59.5% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2023 and 2022 respectively. Trade output is double the figure achieved in the first half of 2021 and was more than double the figure recorded in the first half of 2019.
The UAE's non-oil exports reached AED369.5 billion during the first half of 2025, with a growth rate of more than 44.7% – for the first time in the country's history –, as well as a growth rate of 80% when compared to the first half of 2023. This level is more than double the value of non-oil exports during 2022, more than double 2021's level and 3 times larger than in 2020 and 2019. Non-oil exports increased during the first half of 2025 at a record rate of 210.3% compared to the same period in 2019.
Non-oil exports were the best performers among the UAE's foreign trade during the first half of 2025, contributing 21.4% of the UAE's total non-oil trade. This was higher than the contribution in the first half of 2024 and 2023, where it was 18.4% and 16.4%, respectively.
The most important destinations for the UAE's non-oil exports during the first half of 2025 were Switzerland, followed by India second, Turkey third, and Hong Kong-China fourth. Thailand, Switzerland and India recorded the highest growth rates among the recipient markets for UAE exports.
Among the top 10 recipients of the UAE's non-oil exports, CEPA partners amounted to AED85.02 billion, with a growth of 62.8% and a 23% share of the UAE's non-oil exports. India received a value of AED51.45 billion, a growth of 97.6% compared to 2024 for the same period, followed by Turkey with a value of AED27.2 billion and a growth of 24.1%. Exports to these ten countries with which CEPAs came into force increased 3 times compared to the exports recorded in 2022 and 2021 and exceeded 4 times the exports in 2019.
The value of re-exports also continued its upward trajectory, reaching AED389 billion during the first half of 2025, with a growth of 14%, 15.8% and 25.4% compared to the same periods in 2024, 2023 and 2022. respectively. The re-exports of the top 10 partner nations recorded a growth of 16.5%. Re-exports of the rest of the world recorded a growth of 12% compared with the first half of 2024.
The UAE's imports of non-oil goods amounted to AED969.3 billion during the first half of 2025, a growth rate of 22.5% compared to the same period in 2024, while the UAE's imports from the top 10 trading partners increased by 20.8% and with the rest of the world by 24.3%.
The UAE's non-oil trade with the country's top 10 trading partners around the world continued its upward trajectory in the first half of 2025 with a growth of 25.5% and an increase of 23.6% with the rest of the countries.
Trade with India increased by 33.9%, with China by 15.6%, with Switzerland by 120%, and with Saudi Arabia by 21.3% compared to the same period in 2024. Trade with Turkey also saw a 41.4% rise, while the UAE's non-oil trade with the United States of America witnessed a growth of 29% and ranked sixth among the country's top 10 trading partners around the world. France also entered the top 10 list in the first half of 2025.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Zawya
30 minutes ago
- Zawya
Mott MacDonald makes key appointments for Middle East
Mott MacDonald has appointed Rick Hopper as Managing Director of its Middle East business and Jonathan Looker as Divisional General Manager for Saudi Arabia. The changes respond to growing client demand for world class engineering consultancy and strategic advice in the region and follow Paul Hilton's appointment as Managing Director for Mott MacDonald's Middle East, South Asia and international development. Hopper will be responsible for providing strategic leadership to Mott MacDonald's Middle East business, overseeing a growing portfolio of projects in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. He will focus on developing strong relationships with a select list of clients to ensure we continue to win and deliver high-value projects across the Middle East. Having led Mott MacDonald's Saudi Arabia business since 2023, Hopper has overseen a period of significant growth, establishing the firm's new operations in the Kingdom and playing an integral role in key wins including as City Infrastructure Engineer on THE LINE at NEOM. Hopper will be supported by Looker, who takes over from him as divisional general manager for Saudi Arabia. Hopper and Looker will both be based in Riyadh. Looker has extensive leadership and management experience at Mott MacDonald over the past 20 years, most recently as development director for the Middle East with responsibility for driving strategy and growth across the region. His leadership and vision will be vital for the successful delivery of Mott MacDonald's work related to Saudi giga projects as well as recruiting and developing talent and securing new work in the buildings, transport, water and energy markets, said a statement. Hopper said: "The Middle East's bold ambitions demand world-class engineering solutions and highly skilled and talented people to bring them to life. I look forward to leading our business and working with our clients across the region to deliver transformative projects that drive sustainable economic growth, social value and environmental stewardship.' Jonathan said: 'Saudi Vision 2030 provides an opportunity to drive sustainable development in this fast-changing market. I'm eager to build a dynamic, locally rooted team that combines global expertise with deep regional insight. This not only allows us to deliver exceptional value across Saudi Arabia but also to bring new ideas and momentum back to our wider global business.' - TradeArabia News Service Copyright 2025 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (


Zawya
30 minutes ago
- Zawya
Mideast Stocks: Middle East equities up ahead of earnings, Dubai pulls back from 17-year high
Middle East stock markets gained on Thursday as anticipation of strong blue-chip earnings offset signals that U.S. interest rates may remain high, while profit-taking dragged the Dubai index down from a 17-1/2 year high. The Federal Reserve's lack of clear guidance on when it might lower borrowing costs hampered investor sentiment in a region where monetary policy typically mirrors the U.S. due to currency pegs. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index gained 0.1%, driven by investor enthusiasm ahead of major earnings announcements from chemical company SABIC and oil giant Aramco due early next week. Aramco rose 0.3%, while Bupa Arabia for Cooperative Insurance jumped 4.3% after appointing a chairman. Elsewhere, Saudi National Bank, the kingdom's biggest lender by assets, advanced 1.5% as investors bought stock to qualify for dividends ahead of the August 3 eligibility date. Dubai's main share index retreated 0.8%, snapping six straight sessions of gains as investors locked in profits following a nearly two-decade high in multiple sessions. All sectors closed in the red, led by a 1.3% decline in blue-chip developer Emaar Properties. The Abu Dhabi index added 0.2%, lifted by selective buying amid a mixed earnings season. Top lender First Abu Dhabi Bank advanced 1.7%. Qatar's stock index rose 1% to 11,262 riyals, a level last seen over two and a half years ago. Qatar Islamic Bank led the rally, gaining over 3%. Brokerage HSBC lifted its price target to 29.4 riyals from 25.4 riyals. Qatar's Ooredoo surged 5.2%, touching a nearly 11-year peak after the telecom giant posted upbeat second-quarter earnings and held full-year outlook steady. Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index jumped 1% to hit a fresh record high, led by a 1.5% gain in Talaat Moustafa Group Holding. SAUDI ARABIA gained 0.1% to 10,920 ABU DHABI added 0.2% to 10,371 DUBAI retreated 0.8% to 6,159 QATAR rose 1% to 11,262 EGYPT climbed 1% to 34,198 BAHRAIN was flat at 1,956 OMAN jumped 0.7% to 4,781 KUWAIT advanced 0.4% to 9,294 (Reporting by Amna Mariyam in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed) Reuters


Zawya
30 minutes ago
- Zawya
Ellington enters Dubai South with new residential project
Ellington Properties, a leading UAE real estate developer, is expanding its footprint into Dubai South, a fast-growing hub for innovation, connectivity, and community-centric living, with the launch of its debut project in the district - Windsor House. A premium residential development, Windsor House, offers a refined selection of studio to three-bedroom apartments with light-filled interiors and curated wellness amenities. These include adult and kids' pools, a Pilates studio, outdoor yoga decks, landscaped gardens, children's play zones, and social corners – all designed to foster well-being, family life, and connection, it stated. Designed for intentional living, Windsor House is also part of UAE's First-Time Home Buyer Programme, providing flexible payment options and added support to help residents transition from renting to homeownership. "Dubai South aligns with Ellington's vision to develop within communities that are not only growing but are being thoughtfully designed to support long-term lifestyles," remarked Joseph Thomas, the co-founder of Ellington Properties. It is quickly emerging as a key player in Dubai's urban evolution. Anchored by the expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport, set to become the world's largest, and the transformation of Expo City Dubai into a global hub for sustainability and innovation, the district is primed for significant economic and lifestyle growth. With improved infrastructure, access to major transport networks, and a vision rooted in progressive urban planning, Dubai South presents an attractive proposition for homeowners and investors seeking value and forward-looking living. "Our entry into this district reflects our belief in its potential to become a key residential and commercial destination in Dubai. We are excited to contribute to its transformation through our design-led philosophy and attention to detail," he added.- TradeArabia News Service Copyright 2025 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (