UAE Breaks Into Global Top 10 Exporters for the First Time
- Publish date: Sunday، 05 April 2026 Reading time: 1 min read
The UAE secures a spot among the top 10 global exporters, climbing to ninth place in goods exports by 2025.
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The United Arab Emirates has secured a spot among the world’s top 10 exporters for the first time, ranking ninth globally in goods exports in 2025, according to the World Trade Organization.
The milestone reflects the country’s rapid rise as a major global trade hub, climbing from 17th place in just five years.
Total trade in goods and services surged to $1.637 trillion (Dh6.014 trillion) in 2025, driven by strong performance across both traditional and emerging sectors. Goods trade reached Dh4.9 trillion, while services trade crossed the Dh1 trillion mark for the first time.
Exports played a key role in this growth, accounting for more than half of goods trade and over 60 per cent of services trade, helping deliver a record trade surplus of Dh584.1 billion.
Digital services continued to expand rapidly, with exports reaching $33 billion and making up 17 per cent of total services exports.
Non-oil trade has been a major driver of growth, supported by strategic initiatives such as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement programme, which has enabled the UAE to expand its global trade network.
The country has signed agreements with 35 nations, reinforcing its position as the leading trading hub in the Middle East and Africa.
Despite the strong performance, the WTO has cautioned that global trade growth is expected to slow in 2026, signalling potential challenges ahead for the global economy.