Abu dhabi: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, today reviewed the results achieved by the UAE's non-oil foreign trade in the first half of 2026. His Highness announced that the UAE's non-oil foreign trade had approached the AED2 trillion mark, reaching AED1.937 trillion, marking a growth of 13.1% from the previous year. National non-oil exports also hit a record high of AED452.8 billion.
According to Emirates News Agency, the UAE's non-oil foreign trade in the first half of 2026 represented a 39.6% increase compared to the same period in 2024, a 54.5% rise from the first half of 2023, and a 78.8% growth compared to 2022. This reflects a consistent upward trend in UAE's trade over recent years. The figures showcase the robust economic growth of the nation and the effectiveness of its development strategies.
Furthermore, non-oil exports were the primary catalyst for the UAE's trade performance in H1 2026, growing by 23.9% year on year to achieve AED452.8 billion. The share of non-oil exports in the UAE's total non-oil foreign trade rose to 23.4%, indicating a significant shift towards an economy driven by production, exports, and value addition.
China remained the UAE's largest trading partner, with non-oil trade reaching AED180.7 billion, followed by Switzerland and India. Egypt, Oman, and Hong Kong also exhibited strong growth rates among the UAE's key trading partners. The first half of 2026 saw a 12.6% growth in non-oil foreign trade with the UAE's top ten trading partners and a 13.6% increase with the rest of the world.
The UAE's Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) played a crucial role in driving trade performance. Non-oil trade with countries having a fully implemented CEPA reached AED304.3 billion. This highlights the broad market access these agreements have provided to UAE products and companies.
Gold emerged as the top commodity in UAE's non-oil trade, valued at AED706.2 billion, marking a 48.8% year-on-year growth. The telecoms sector, gold jewelry, automobiles, and diamonds followed as key commodities, collectively accounting for approximately 67% of the UAE's total non-oil merchandise trade in the first half of 2026.
These trade figures underscore the UAE's sustained economic momentum, its commitment to trade openness, and its strong international partnerships, solidifying its status among the world's most competitive economies.
Source: Emirates News Agency
