Abu dhabi: In a historic first, the UAE has become one of the world's top 10 exporting countries, according to the latest figures from the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) 'World Trade Prospects and Statistics' report. This achievement reflects the UAE's position as a vital hub on international supply chains and its growing contribution to the wider global economy.
According to Emirates News Agency, the WTO report noted that the UAE's goods and services trade has risen significantly in recent years, increasing from US$949 billion (AED3.5 trillion) in 2021 to US$1.637 trillion (AED6.014 trillion) in 2025. The value of the UAE's trade in goods reached US$1.33 trillion (AED4.9 trillion), with exports representing 53 percent of the total goods trade with the world. Meanwhile, services trade amounted to AED1.14 trillion, of which 61.4 percent were service exports to global markets.
The result was a trade surplus of AED584.1 billion in 2025, compared to AED492.3 billion in 2024, a year-on-year growth of 19 percent. These figures reflect the vital role the UAE plays in global trade, ranking 9th in the world in goods exports and 13th in goods imports during 2025. The report also highlighted what it described as the exceptional growth in the UAE's foreign trade in services, which reached AED1.14 trillion in 2025 - exceeding the AED1 trillion barrier for the first time.
The UAE's contribution to global goods exports amounted to 3.3 percent, while goods imports accounted for 2.8 percent of the global total. In services, the UAE accounted for 2 percent of global exports, and 1.4 percent of global imports. In the digital services sector, the UAE ranked 25th globally with an export value of US$33 billion (AED121.19 billion), contributing 0.6 percent of the world's exports of digital services. This sector constitutes 17 percent of the UAE's total exports of services to the world.
Since 2014, the UAE has maintained its regional leadership, ranking first amongst Middle Eastern and African nations in trade with the world. Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, emphasized the UAE's top 10 ranking in goods exports as a reflection of the nation's competitiveness and the world's confidence in its economy. Despite current geopolitical challenges, the UAE is determined to build on this success and cement its position on the global trade map.
Al Zeyoudi highlighted the strength and diversity of the UAE economy as the foundation of this success, noting that service sectors have witnessed growth rates ranging from 9 percent to 14 percent. He explained that the UAE will continue to expand its trade partner network through the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) programme, which enhances the global competitiveness of national products.
The WTO report addressed challenges facing global trade, predicting a slowdown in growth expected in 2026 due to geopolitical tensions and rising energy prices. Goods trade growth is expected to slow to 1.9 percent in 2026, with growth expected to return to 2.6 percent in 2027. Growth in services trade is expected to slow to 4.8 percent in 2026 and then accelerate to 5.1 percent in 2027. If energy prices continue to rise, growth in goods trade could slow to 1.4 percent and services to 4.1 percent in 2026.
