HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said: “Today, we reviewed the UAE’s non-oil foreign trade performance for the first half of 2026, and the results are outstanding by every standard. Non-oil foreign trade came close to the AED2 trillion milestone in just six months, reaching AED1.937 trillion, a 13.1% increase compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, the UAE’s non-oil exports climbed to a record-high AED452.8 billion.”
He added: “These figures are more than just trade statistics. They reflect the resilience of our economy, the success of our development strategy, and the confidence the world places in the UAE.”
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, today reviewed the UAE’s non-oil foreign trade performance for the first half of 2026, highlighting another milestone in the country’s economic growth.
His Highness said: “Today, we reviewed the UAE’s non-oil foreign trade results for the first half of 2026, and they are exceptional by every measure.
“Our non-oil foreign trade came close to the AED2 trillion milestone in just six months, reaching AED1.937 trillion, representing year-on-year growth of 13.1%. Meanwhile, our national non-oil exports reached a new historic high of AED452.8 billion.”
He added: “These figures are more than trade statistics. They reflect the strength of our economy, the success of our development choices, and the confidence the world places in the UAE.”
UAE’s Non-Oil Foreign Trade Maintains Strong Growth Momentum
The UAE’s non-oil foreign trade reached AED1.937 trillion during the first half of 2026, marking a 13.1% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Trade volumes were also 39.6% higher than H1 2024, 54.5% above H1 2023, and 78.8% higher than H1 2022, underscoring the sustained expansion of the country’s trade sector.
Compared to the same period in both 2019 and 2021, the UAE’s non-oil foreign trade has more than doubled, highlighting the pace of economic growth and the resilience of the national economy.
Non-Oil Exports Reach Record High
Non-oil exports were the main driver of trade growth in the first half of 2026, rising 23.9% year on year to a record AED452.8 billion. This represents a 77.3% increase compared to the first half of 2024.
The contribution of non-oil exports to the UAE’s total non-oil foreign trade rose to 23.4%, up from 21.3% in H1 2025, 18.4% in 2024 and 16.9% in 2023, reflecting the country’s continued transition towards a production- and export-led economy focused on value creation.
Diverse and Expanding Global Trade Network
China remained the UAE’s largest non-oil trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching AED180.7 billion, followed by Switzerland at AED138.4 billion and India at AED107.5 billion. Strong growth was also recorded in trade with Egypt, Oman and Hong Kong.
Trade with the UAE’s ten largest trading partners grew by 12.6% during the first half of 2026, while trade with the rest of the world increased by 13.6%, highlighting the depth, diversity and continued expansion of the UAE’s global trade relationships.
CEPAs Continue to Strengthen Trade Performance
The UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) continued to deliver strong results during the first half of 2026. Total non-oil trade with countries where CEPAs are fully in force reached AED304.3 billion, including AED193.5 billion in imports.
Non-oil exports to CEPA partner countries totalled AED66.1 billion and now account for 21.7% of the UAE’s total trade with these markets, up from 19.1% in 2022. The figures demonstrate the growing role of the agreements in expanding market access for UAE businesses and boosting the country’s export competitiveness.
Gold Leads Trade Across Key Commodities
Gold remained the UAE’s leading non-oil traded commodity, with a value of AED706.2 billion in the first half of 2026, representing annual growth of 48.8%. Telecommunications equipment ranked second at AED189.7 billion, followed by gold jewellery, automobiles and diamonds.
Together, the country’s top ten traded commodities accounted for around 67% of total non-oil merchandise trade during the first half of the year.
The latest results reinforce the UAE’s sustained economic momentum and its success in achieving diversified, trade-led growth driven by openness, strategic international partnerships and a competitive business environment, further strengthening its position among the world’s leading global economies.
