A report titled “Prospects and Statistics of Global Trade,” released by the World Trade Organization, has revealed that the United Arab Emirates has made history by ranking ninth among the top ten global exporters of goods for the first time.
The report highlighted what it called the exceptional growth in the UAE’s overall foreign trade, noting that it reached 6 trillion dirhams ($1.63 trillion) in 2025, an increase from 5.23 trillion dirhams ($1.42 trillion) in 2024, representing an almost 15% growth. This figure includes both goods and services, including oil exports. Additionally, the report noted that the country’s services trade reached an unprecedented 1.14 trillion dirhams in 2025, while non-oil goods trade amounted to 3.8 trillion dirhams in 2025, showing a historic annual increase of 27%.
This achievement, as outlined in the WTO report, is a culmination of dedicated effort and strategic planning, reflecting the success of the economic and trade policies implemented in accordance with the directives of the nation’s wise leadership, aimed at enhancing commercial and investment openness in the UAE, making it a model of competitiveness and global integration.
The report observed the remarkable growth in the UAE’s foreign trade in goods and services over recent years, with trade rising from $949 billion (3.5 trillion dirhams) in 2021 to $1.424 trillion (5.23 trillion dirhams) in 2024, and continuing its upward trajectory to $1.637 trillion (6.014 trillion dirhams) in 2025. Specifically, the value of goods trade was 4.9 trillion dirhams, with goods exports constituting 53% of total goods trade. In terms of services, trade reached 1.14 trillion dirhams, with 61.4% of this being service exports to global markets. Furthermore, the trade surplus for goods and services was 584.1 billion dirhams in 2025, up from 492.3 billion dirhams in 2024, marking a 19% growth in the trade surplus over just one year.
These figures illustrate the UAE’s prominent position in global trade, with the country ranked ninth in goods exports and thirteenth in goods imports in 2025. The UAE contributed 3.3% of global goods exports and 2.8% of global goods imports, as well as 2% of worldwide services exports and 1.4% of global services imports. In the rapidly growing digital services sector, the UAE ranked twenty-fifth globally, with exports worth $33 billion, contributing 0.6% of global digital services exports. This vital sector accounted for 17% of the UAE’s total service exports.
Since 2014, the UAE has maintained its position as the top trading nation in the Middle East and Africa, climbing from seventeenth to ninth globally in goods exports in less than five years, highlighting the dynamism and resilience of its economy.
His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, stated that the UAE’s achievements in foreign trade highlighted in the WTO’s latest report are a testament to the visionary leadership’s commitment to increased commercial and investment openness.
International Recognition
He emphasized that the UAE’s entry into the top ten goods exporters for the first time is further international recognition of the country’s leadership and competitiveness, reflecting global confidence in the national economy’s potential for significant advancement across various global metrics.
Dr. Al Zeyoudi indicated that the latest WTO report confirms the UAE as a pivotal player in the global trade landscape and reiterated that the country’s open economic policies continue to yield exceptional results across all dimensions.
He added that the strength and diversification of the UAE economy, across goods, services, and digital sectors, form the foundation of this success, as evidenced by the total foreign trade of goods and services reaching 6.014 trillion dirhams in 2025, achieving a record trade surplus of 584.1 billion dirhams.
Dr. Al Zeyoudi reaffirmed that the UAE is enhancing its status as a key global hub for goods and services trade, with sectors such as financial services, logistics, hospitality, information technology, and transportation experiencing growth rates between 9% and 14%, reflecting the vitality of the national economy and its ability to adapt to global changes while overcoming geopolitical challenges.
He explained that the UAE’s trade strategy focuses on expanding its network of trading partners through high-quality agreements with key global markets, enabling Emirati exporters and companies to access new markets with fewer trade barriers, thus enhancing the competitiveness of national products internationally. He noted that the UAE continues to develop its legislative and commercial frameworks and leverage modern technologies to improve supply chain efficiency while ensuring sustainable economic growth and comprehensive development, regardless of temporary challenges.
Dr. Al Zeyoudi affirmed the UAE’s belief in the importance of international cooperation in promoting the free flow of goods, services, and capital, advocating for the reform of the World Trade Organization and the development of its mechanisms to keep pace with the rapid changes in the global economy, ensuring that all countries have access to a fair and transparent trading system.
Future Achievements
Dr. Al Zeyoudi concluded his remarks by emphasizing that the UAE has a history of turning challenges into opportunities, as proven in recent years, and is steadily progressing towards achieving even more accomplishments, aiming for a more advanced position on the global trade map. This drive is underpinned by the visionary leadership’s guidance, the determination of its citizens, and open economic policies that prioritize sustainability and innovation, alongside a diverse and resilient economy tailored to navigate the current challenges, a fact evidenced by the continued upward trajectory of the UAE’s foreign trade, countering the declining or sluggish trends in global trade.
Additionally, the report addressed challenges facing global trade, particularly the anticipated slowdown in growth for 2026 due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and rising energy prices. It projects that goods trade growth may decline to 1.9% in 2026, down from 4.6% in 2025, with an anticipated recovery to 2.6% in 2027. Service trade growth is expected to slow to 4.8% in 2026, before accelerating to 5.1% in 2027. Should energy prices continue to rise, trade growth for goods could shrink to 1.4% and for services to 4.1% in 2026, according to the report. In contrast, the UAE stands out as a nation with open and flexible policies, capable of adapting to global changes and seizing any forthcoming recovery in international trade activities.