The UAE’s non-oil foreign trade came close to Dh3 trillion in the first nine months of 2026, according to official figures announced on Sunday, November 8. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, shared the results in a post on X after reviewing the latest trade report.
Data published by the Emirates News Agency (WAM) puts non-oil trade from January to September at Dh2.945 trillion, up 10.1 per cent on the same period of 2025. Sheikh Mohammed said it was the first time the figure had approached Dh3 trillion in just nine months.
Exports hit a record high
Non-oil exports were the strongest part of the report. They rose 21.6 per cent to about Dh706 billion, a record for the period, according to WAM. Exports now make up 24 per cent of total non-oil trade, compared with 21.7 per cent a year earlier.
September was the first month in which non-oil exports passed Dh100 billion, and quarterly exports have stayed above Dh200 billion for five quarters in a row. Sheikh Mohammed said exports to the UAE’s 10 largest trading partners grew by 31 per cent; the Ministry of Foreign Trade put the figure at 31.6 per cent.
- Total non-oil trade (9 months): Dh2.945 trillion, up 10.1%
- Non-oil exports: about Dh706 billion, up 21.6%
- Imports: Dh1.661 trillion, up 11.5%
- Re-exports: Dh578 billion
- Third quarter alone: Dh1.025 trillion, up 7.1% year on year
Who the UAE trades with, and what it sells
Switzerland, Hong Kong and India were the top destinations for UAE non-oil exports, with exports to Switzerland up 75.8 per cent and to Hong Kong up 59.1 per cent, WAM reported. Gold, jewellery and tobacco were the leading exported goods.
Saudi Arabia remained the biggest market for re-exports, followed by Iraq and Oman, with telephone sets, diamonds and cars the main re-exported items. China was the largest source of imports, followed by India and the United States. Gold, telephones and refined petroleum oils topped the list of imported goods.
For the large Indian community in the UAE, the figures underline how closely the two economies are linked: India appears among the top three partners for both exports and imports.
The role of trade agreements
The Minister of Foreign Trade, Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, linked the growth to the UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs). He said the deals “open new markets for UAE exports, ease the movement of goods, lower trade barriers”.
According to WAM, 19 CEPAs covering 23 countries were in force as of October 20, 2026. Non-oil trade with those partners reached about Dh510.8 billion in the nine months. The CEPA programme was launched in 2021 to cut tariffs and simplify customs procedures, The National reported.
How the numbers compare with earlier years
The longer-term trend shows rapid growth. WAM said nine-month non-oil trade is 37.2 per cent higher than in 2024 and 55.2 per cent higher than the Dh1.9 trillion recorded in the same period of 2023. In the first nine months of 2019, the total did not exceed Dh1.3 trillion.
In his post, Sheikh Mohammed said “the UAE remains a central hub for international trade” and congratulated the UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the national teams involved, Gulf News reported.
Regional trade links are also expanding beyond agreements with individual countries. Read more on the GCC states’ Gulf railway agreement.
Sources: Sharjah 24 (WAM), Gulf News, The National
