UAE’s non-oil foreign trade in 2021 amounted to nearly AED1.9 trillion ($517 billion), a 27 percent growth compared to 2020 and 11 percent compared to 2019.
The government said the growth was consistent across all areas of trade, including exports, imports and re-exports.
The individual non-oil foreign trade figures of all emirates of the country also witnessed growth in varying levels, evidencing the comprehensive growth achieved by the UAE’s global trade, the government said.
The value of national non-oil exports amounted to about AED 354 billion, setting a new record, exceeding AED 300 billion for the first time in its history, a growth of 33.3 percent as compared to 2020 and 47.3 percent as compared to 2019.
Trade figures for 2021 showed that the total value of re-exports amounted to AED 521.3 billion, achieving a growth of 27.7 percent compared to 2020 and 1.6 percent compared to 2019.
Meanwhile, the total value of the country’s imports during 2021 amounted to about AED 1 trillion, a growth of 23.8 percent as compared to 2020, and about 7 percent compared to 2019.
China ranked first as the country’s largest trading partner in 2021, accounting for 11.7 percent of the UAE’s total foreign trade with the world, and the value of non-oil trade exchange between the two countries amounted to AED 212 billion, a growth of 27 percent from 2020 and 19.8 percent from 2019.
India ranked second, accounting for 8.7 percent of the country’s total non-oil trade, with a value of AED 164.4 billion, followed by Saudi Arabia in third with a contribution of 6.6 percent and a value of 125 billion during 2021, achieving a growth of 20 percent compared to 2020 and 10.1 percent compared to 2019.
The United States of America came in fourth, as its trade exchange with the UAE has grown by 8.1 percent compared to 2020, while Iraq ranked fifth.
India was the top export destination, accounting for 13.8 percent of the country’s total exports, and receiving AED 50 billion of UAE exports, a growth of 150 percent from 2020 and about 100 percent from 2019.
Saudi Arabia was the second largest recipient of UAE exports, with a contribution of 10.7 percent. It received AED 38 billion of the country’s exports, achieving a growth of 48 percent compared to 2020 and by 22.4 percent compared to 2019.
Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, said the results “prove that UAE is among the most vibrant trade and business hubs regionally, and the leading trade routes globally”.
“The all-encompassing positive results seen across import, export and re-export activities in all the emirates indicate a systematic and integrated growth powered by flexible and highly efficient trade policies and foundations for sustainable development,” he said.
Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said these results “were driven by the launch of the Projects of the 50 and the continuous efforts being made to enhance the UAE’s position on the international trade map and ensure an attractive, vibrant trade environment that is open to the world and linked to a strong and diverse network of global supply chains.”