The United Arab Emirates has officially hit its economic records, with non-oil foreign trade exceeding AED 3.8 trillion for the first time. This achievement, announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, marks a 27% increase over 2024. It also signals a massive shift away from oil dependency.
By reaching these figures in 2025, the UAE has realized 95% of its ‘We the UAE 2031’ targets five years ahead of schedule, cementing its status as a global trade powerhouse.
One of the major reasons behind this success is a huge jump in national exports that amounted to AED 813.8 billion. This growth of more than 45.5% in just one year marks a total shift in the economy. Non-oil exports now make up over 21% of all trade, which is almost double the amount from four years ago. Gold, jewelry, and aluminum are also leading this growth.
The UAE also signed many Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA). These trade deals basically help the UAE reach billions of people in other countries. As reported by Gulf Business, Sheikh Mohammed said that the "investment environment is complete" and "global confidence in the UAE has been firmly established." This shows that the world now sees the UAE as a preferred country for business and manufacturing goods.
Many people assume trade achievements only help large companies; however, this growth in non-oil foreign trade is great news for small businesses. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can now sell their products to other countries more easily. The new trade deals remove taxes on 90% of goods. This means a local company can sell to India or Turkey without paying high fees. It makes "Made in the UAE" products much cheaper and more popular around the world.
Local business owners will now see lower costs for the materials they buy from abroad. Over the next six months, the government will make shipping even faster. New digital systems will help goods move through customs without delays. This will help every business, from tech startups to local factories, grow much faster.
The UAE’s move to an AED 3.8 trillion non-oil economy is a plan for the future. The growth of the current industry now depends on how quickly local businesses start using these new trade and expand their reach in other countries.