UAE's non-oil foreign trade surges to AED 1.9 trillion

The UAE's non-oil foreign trade in 2021 registered a 27 per cent increase over the previous year to reach AED 1.9 trillion.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai revealed the figures on Twitter.

The latest trade figures represent an 11 per cent growth compared to that of 2019.

Sheikh Mohammed said the UAE's economic growth is improving post-COVID-19 and its dependence on oil is decreasing.

"The future looks beautiful and more sustainable," added His Highness.

ضمن تطورات الدولة الاقتصادية حققت تجارتنا الخارجية غير النفطية في ٢٠٢١ قفزة بنسبة ٢٧٪ عن السنة التي قبلها و١١٪ عن ٢٠١٩، حيث بلغت ١.٩ تريليون درهم .. انطلاقتنا بعد كوفيد قوية..ونمونا الاقتصادي تصاعدي..وابتعادنا عن الاعتماد على النفط يصل لمرحلة الاستدامة.. والقادم أجمل بإذن الله..

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) February 27, 2022

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, achieving a growth of 33.3% compared to that of 2020 and 47.3% compared to that of 2019.

Meanwhile, the total value of re-exports amounted to AED 521.3 billion, achieving a growth of 27.7% compared to 2020 and 1.6% compared to 2019.

The total value of the country's imports during 2021 amounted to about AED 1 trillion, showing a growth of 23.8% over the year 2020, and about 7% from 2019.

China ranked first as the UAE's largest trading partner in 2021, accounting for 11.7% of the 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% from 2020 and 19.8% from 2019.

India ranked second, which accounts for 8.7% of the country's total non-oil trade, with a value of AED 164.4 billion, followed by Saudi Arabia in the third position with a contribution of 6.6% and a value of 125 billion during 2021, achieving a growth of 20% compared to 2020 and 10.1% compared to 2019.

In fourth place is the United States of America, with which trade exchange has grown by 8.1% compared to 2020, while Iraq ranked in the fifth place.

India emerged as the UAE's top export destination, accounting for 13.8% of the country's total exports, and receiving AED 50 billion of UAE exports, a growth of 150% from 2020 and about 100% from 2019.

KSA was the second largest recipient of the UAE exports (10.7%) as it received AED 38 billion of the country's exports, achieving a growth of 48% compared to 2020 and 22.4% compared to 2019.