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UAE non-oil foreign trade rises 10.1% to AED 2.945 trillion in first nine months of 2026

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Container cranes and stacked shipping containers at a UAE port at sunrise Economy
Container cranes and stacked shipping containers at a UAE port at sunrise

Non-oil exports climbed 21.6% to a record AED 706 billion and imports rose 11.5% to AED 1.661 trillion, while monthly exports passed AED 100 billion for the first time in September 2026.

The UAE's non-oil foreign trade reached AED 2.945 trillion in the first nine months of 2026, up 10.1% on the same period last year, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported on 8 November 2026. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced the figures after reviewing the foreign trade report for the period.

Non-oil exports rose 21.6% to a record AED 706 billion, imports increased 11.5% to AED 1.661 trillion and re-exports reached AED 578 billion. Exports made up 24.0% of total non-oil trade, compared with 21.7% a year earlier, and monthly exports exceeded AED 100 billion for the first time in September 2026. Total non-oil trade was 37.2% higher than in the first nine months of 2024 and 55.2% higher than in the same period of 2023, when it stood at AED 1.9 trillion.

In the third quarter, non-oil trade reached AED 1.025 trillion, up 7.1% year on year and 11.1% on the second quarter, when it stood at AED 922.9 billion. Non-oil exports in the quarter were AED 256.1 billion, up 19% year on year and 16.2% on the previous quarter, and quarterly exports have now exceeded AED 200 billion for five consecutive quarters.

Exports to the UAE's top ten trading partners rose 31.6%. Total trade with the rest of the world grew 11.9%, faster than the 8.3% growth in trade with the top ten partners. Re-exports to Oman rose 71.5% and imports from the United States 5.3%. Trade with the 23 countries covered by the 19 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) in force as of 20 October 2026 was about AED 510.8 billion, 6.6% more than in the same period of 2024, WAM reported.

Sheikh Mohammed said: "For the first time, our non-oil foreign trade is nearing AED 3 trillion in just nine months, up 10% on last year, while our exports to our top ten trading partners grew by 31%." Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said the CEPAs "open new markets for UAE exports, ease the movement of goods, lower trade barriers and give national companies wider access to consumers and partners around the world".

Sources