The Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA) announced that its contribution to Dubai’s non-oil foreign trade for the first half of 2021 reached 11 percent. H1 trade in the Freezone grew 34 percent from the same period last year to reach AED77 billion, with a trade surplus of AED6.2 billion.
Imports recorded a growth of 44.5 percent in the first half of the year compared to the corresponding period last year, reaching AED35.4 billion, which represents 8.5 percent of Dubai’s total imports. In terms of re-exports, DAFZA grew 24 percent to total AED40.8 billion, representing 20.5 percent of Dubai’s total non-oil foreign trade. Exports saw a 501 percent growth compared to the same period of the previous year.
These results reflect Dubai’s success in reinforcing its role as a global trade hub and becoming a key player in the worldwide supply and trade chain. The strong growth figures, achieved despite disruptions to the movement of goods, trade chains and economic cycles due to the pandemic, demonstrate the agility and proactivity shown by the UAE and Dubai in spurring recovery through innovation and strong support for investors and businesses.
“DAFZA’s latest statistics show that Dubai is returning to pre-pandemic growth levels,” Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of DAFZA, said. “DAFZA’s H1 results reflect the world’s trust in the UAE’s trade ecosystem and a return to its rapid economic growth momentum”.
Machinery, sound recorders, TVs and electrical equipment are among the key commodities featured in DAFZA’s trading. These commodities saw a significant growth of 43 percent in the first half of the current year compared to the same period last year. As a result, the sector represented 74.4 percent of exports and re-exports amounting to AED31 billion and 76.8 percent of imports that amounted to AED27.2 billion.
This was followed by the precious stones and metals and jewelry cluster, which came in second with a 9 percent growth from the previous year.
The cluster accounted for 19.4 percent of exports and re-exports amounting to AED8.1 billion and 16.8 percent of imports at AED5.9 billion. These two clusters represent approximately 94 percent of DAFZA’s overall trade.
In terms of commercial partners, China came in first at 30 percent with a trade value of AED23 billion in the first half of the year, representing a growth of 70 percent compared to the same period last year.
Iraq came in second at 7.1 percent with AED5.4 billion, followed by India at 4.6 percent with AED3.3 billion. DAFZA’s trade with Turkey saw a five-fold growth in the first half of 2021.
In terms of imports, China came in first at 65 percent, followed by India at 8 percent, and both Turkey and Vietnam at 5.8 percent. Iraq came in first in exports and re-exports at 13.1 percent, while the USA accounted for 5 percent.