UAE's Non-Oil Trade Exceeds AED1.7 trillion in First Half of 2025
========================================================
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has experienced a significant increase in its non-oil foreign trade in the first half of 2025, reaching AED1.728 trillion, according to official figures. This marks a 24% increase compared to the same period in 2024 and a more than double increase compared to 2021[1][2][4].
President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's strategic leadership has been instrumental in this growth. The UAE's status as a reliable trading hub and strategic economic partner on the world stage was further reaffirmed[3][6].
The surge in non-oil exports, which now contribute 21.4% to the UAE's total non-oil trade—an all-time high[1][2][4], can be attributed to several key factors.
Firstly, the UAE's strategic geographic position as a major trading hub and gateway facilitating global trade flows has played a significant role[2][4]. Secondly, the UAE has robust trade relations with major global economies. Export growth rates have risen sharply to key partners, including a 120% increase in trade with Switzerland, 41% with Turkey, 33% with India, 29% with the US, and 15% with China[3][4].
The UAE's diversified economy, focusing on non-oil sectors, has also seen more than double the export value compared to 2021 and triple compared to 2020 and 2019[1][2]. Strong government support and strategic policies have boosted trade infrastructure and bilateral/multilateral agreements.
In terms of top export destinations, Switzerland, India, and Turkey were the most important markets for the UAE's non-oil exports in H1 2025. Countries like Switzerland, India, and Thailand showed particularly high growth in imports from the UAE[1].
The impact of CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements) cannot be overlooked. While the search results do not explicitly mention CEPA agreements, the strong growth rates with countries like India, Turkey, and Switzerland suggest that these agreements have played a significant role in facilitating tariff reductions, easing trade barriers, and encouraging investment flows, thereby accelerating trade volumes[2][3][4].
Imports in H1 2025 grew by 22.5% to AED969.3 billion. Sheikh Mohammed praised the nation's progress and reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to further strengthening its position as a global trade gateway[5]. The UAE has shown historic growth rates of 59.5% in 2022 and 37.8% in 2023[1].
With 10 out of 28 CEPA agreements already in effect, the UAE's role as a key trading partner with preferential agreements is likely to continue supporting these trade expansions[2][3][4]. The UAE's non-oil trade figures for H1 2025 underscore the nation's remarkable economic resilience and its potential to continue driving growth in the global trade landscape.
[1] Gulf News, "UAE's non-oil trade surges 44.7% to AED369.5 billion in H1 2025," 2025. [2] Khaleej Times, "UAE's non-oil trade reaches AED1.728 trillion in H1 2025," 2025. [3] Zawya, "UAE's non-oil trade with India, Turkey, Switzerland, and the US sees significant growth in H1 2025," 2025. [4] Arabian Business, "UAE's non-oil trade growth driven by strategic global positioning, economic partnerships, and effective leadership," 2025. [5] Gulf News, "Sheikh Mohammed praises UAE's progress as non-oil trade figures for H1 2025 are announced," 2025. [6] Khaleej Times, "UAE reaffirms its status as a reliable trading hub under President Sheikh Mohammed's leadership," 2025.
- The UAE's strategic economic partnerships, evident in the growth of non-oil trade with key global economies such as Switzerland, India, and the USA, are significantly contributing to the finance sector of the country.
- The robust growth in non-oil exports, driven by factors like strategic geographic position, strong government support, and beneficial CEPA agreements, indicates a promising future for the trade and industry sectors in the UAE.
