A delegation from the United Arab Emirates participated in the “BRICS Business Forum,” held alongside the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
His Excellency Dr. Thani Al-Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, emphasized the strong ties between the UAE and BRICS countries, highlighting the group’s essential role in fostering innovation, accelerating trade growth, and enhancing cross-border investment opportunities.
He stressed the need for collaboration in key sectors such as logistics, agriculture, renewable energy, technology, and healthcare.
The BRICS Business Forum provided a platform for leaders and representatives from the business sectors of the ten member countries, including Brazil, China, India, Russia, South Africa, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Iran, Egypt, and the UAE, to exchange ideas on boosting cooperation and partnerships between the public and private sectors, aimed at unlocking economic opportunities and addressing current global geopolitical challenges.
The UAE’s participation in the forum reflects its commitment to constructive collaboration and its dedication to strengthening mutually beneficial international partnerships. The forum resulted in the adoption of a range of initiatives intended to deepen economic cooperation and establish new partnerships in the private sector, promoting trade and investment flows.
Dr. Thani Al-Zeyoudi underscored the significance of the forum and the opportunities it facilitates for engagement among countries with similar outlooks and substantial economic transformations.
He noted that the BRICS community offers a distinctive model in today’s economic landscape, aiming for growth driven by investment, innovation, entrepreneurship, and seamless trade relations.
The UAE continues its economic development by attracting foreign direct investment, supporting technology-based new industries, and forming free trade agreements with countries that share similar visions, including BRICS members like India, Indonesia, and Russia.
He stated, “We are eager to further strengthen this relationship and build upon these solid foundations across vital economic sectors, particularly energy, logistics, technology, healthcare, and food security.”
The forum was attended by His Excellency Saleh Ahmed Salem Al-Zahrimi, the UAE Ambassador to Brazil.
Trade between the UAE and BRICS nations has experienced significant growth, with non-oil trade reaching $243 billion in 2024, marking a 10.5% increase from 2023.
This momentum accelerated in 2025, with an annual growth rate of 18.2%, registering a 2.4% rise from the last quarter of 2024, culminating in $68.3 billion in the first quarter of the current year.
UAE non-oil exports to BRICS countries in 2024 surged to $39.4 billion, nearly double the figure from 2019, while re-export trade reached $50.5 billion.
The UAE ranks 14th globally among BRICS trade partners and holds the fifth position in internal trade among BRICS nations, following China, Russia, India, and Brazil.
The BRICS community, originally founded by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has now expanded to include ten countries and plays a crucial role in the global economy, comprising about 40% of the world’s population and contributing approximately 25% of global GDP. The UAE joined BRICS in 2024 as part of its strategic approach to enhance diplomatic and economic relations with global markets and reinforce its supportive role in stimulating worldwide economic growth and prosperity.