The United Arab Emirates (UAE) recognizes the significance of plurality in fostering global peace, security, and development. The country continually emphasizes long-term economic prosperity and strives to maintain balanced strategic and economic relationships within a perpetually evolving global system. Thus, the UAE’s accession to BRICS represents a pivotal step, as this major entity now accounts for over a third of global economic growth, and its purchasing power surpasses that of the G7 nations.
UAE: A Valuable Addition to BRICS
With a remarkable economic foundation, the UAE has established itself as a crucial player within BRICS. Its membership has contributed an incredible $500 billion to the group’s economic size. The UAE’s economy is diverse, as it not only possesses substantial energy reserves but also boasts a non-oil sector that constitutes 74% of its GDP, relying on various sectors including foreign trade, tourism, real estate, industry, artificial intelligence, and agriculture.
Significant Growth in Trade Exchange
Following the UAE’s entry into BRICS, non-oil trade between the UAE and BRICS nations has experienced remarkable growth, reaching nearly $243 billion last year, marking an increase of approximately 10.5%, as stated by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade. He highlighted that in the first quarter of 2025, trade continued to climb by over 18%, totaling nearly $68 billion in non-oil trade. Notably, trade with BRICS countries now accounts for 30% of the UAE’s total foreign trade, underscoring the strategic importance of this group to the UAE and the opportunities it presents.
He elaborated, “Opportunities are emerging in energy, renewable resources, and food security. The group includes countries like India, Brazil, and China, which are significant global food suppliers, whether in consumption or export.” He further noted, “The youth within BRICS nations play a vital role in driving innovation and technology, positioning them to influence the future.”
Exceptional Opportunities for Financial Institutions
The UAE’s membership in BRICS marks a strategic milestone for the nation’s financial sector, offering new avenues for collaboration and unique opportunities for local financial institutions to connect with their counterparts in member countries. By strengthening ties with BRICS nations, the UAE aims to enhance the resilience of its financial sector through technological and structural advancements that boost efficiency, while safeguarding its strong financial climate and legislative framework.
Economic Partnerships
The UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements program aims to broaden the network of trade and investment partners globally, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a gateway for non-oil trade and services, as well as an international hub for business and investment. These agreements reflect the country’s vision, which recognizes the importance of rules-based free trade in achieving sustainable economic growth and comprehensive development. The UAE’s diverse partnerships with vital economies across five continents significantly amplify opportunities and broaden access to international markets for its economic sectors.
Currently, BRICS represents about 45% of the world’s population and accounts for 25% of total global exports. The collective GDP of its member countries constitutes 29% of the global GDP, making the UAE’s membership an exceptional opportunity to establish expansive economic, commercial, and investment prospects, further contributing to sustainable long-term economic growth and enhancing its status as a leading global economic center.
Artificial Intelligence: Investment in the Future
The UAE has established itself as a leading global center for artificial intelligence (AI) in the first half of 2025, fueled by a forward-looking vision, massive strategic investments, and pioneering government initiatives that bolster its technological capabilities and accelerate digital transformation across all sectors. The UAE has allocated significant investments in AI, with projections suggesting that its contribution to the national economy could exceed 350 billion dirhams by 2030, equating to about 14% of the GDP, according to reports from global institutions including Dell Technologies and PwC.
Forecasts indicate that the information and communication technology market size will reach $52.23 billion (191.68 billion dirhams) as reported by Mordor Intelligence. The UAE’s BRICS membership opens new avenues to reinforce its leadership in artificial intelligence on the global stage through collaboration and knowledge exchange with leading AI nations like China and India.
Moreover, BRICS countries provide substantial markets for AI-supported solutions and services, enhancing the UAE’s technology exports and attractiveness to foreign investments. Positioned as a center for AI within the BRICS framework, the UAE could attract more specialized talent and collaborative investments in research and application projects.
Significant Achievements in the Tourism Sector
The tourism sector plays a vital role in the growth and diversification of the UAE’s economy. Studies indicate that tourism and travel sectors are anticipated to witness another record-breaking year in 2025, forecasting a contribution of 267.5 billion dirhams to the national economy, representing about 13% of the GDP, with a strategic objective of reaching 17% by 2031. At the end of last year, the total number of hotels in the UAE reached 1,251, with hotel room capacity increasing to 216,966 rooms by the end of 2024, showing a growth of 3% compared to 2023, while the number of guests at hotel establishments reached approximately 30.8 million, reflecting a growth rate of 9.5% compared to 2023.
The UAE has already participated in BRICS tourism ministers’ meetings to enhance collaborative efforts in supporting sustainable tourism development. This cooperation is expected to boost tourism flows between the UAE and BRICS countries, which represent substantial consumer markets and rising economic powers, aligning with the UAE’s goal of establishing itself as a premier global tourist destination.
Overview of BRICS
The BRICS group was originally established by four nations: Brazil, Russia, India, and China, recognized for their rapid economic growth and capacity to become global economic powers by 2050. The acronym BRIC was coined by economist Jim O’Neill of Goldman Sachs in 2001, derived from the first letter of each country’s name, highlighting their GDP growth, population size, and increasing global influence. The first summit was held in Ekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009, and the following year, South Africa was invited to join, adding the “S” to form BRICS.
Today, BRICS has expanded to encompass ten nations, with the addition of the UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and Indonesia. The presidency of the group rotates annually among its members.