Page 346 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - APRIL 2025 (Part 1)

4/23/25, 4:35 PM UAE foreign trade hits $1.42 trillion in 2024, up from $952.9 billion
The UAE achieved a trade balance surplus of AED492.3 billion ($134 billion) in 2024, slightly
down from AED573.1 billion in 2023, reflecting stability amid global challenges. Exports totaled
AED2.8619 trillion, against imports of AED2.3696 trillion, according to 2021–2024 statistics. The
UAE advanced from 17th to 11th globally in merchandise exports and from 18th to 14th in imports
between 2021 and 2024, contributing 2.5 percent to global merchandise exports and 2.2 percent to
imports. Exports reached $603 billion (AED2.2153 trillion), while imports totaled $539 billion
(AED1.9802 trillion) in 2024.

Advancements in digital services

The UAE ranked 21st globally in digital services exports, valued at $52 billion (AED191 billion) in
2024, an increase from $37 billion in 2021 and $48 billion in 2023. Total digital services trade
reached $94 billion (AED345 billion), representing one-third of services trade. Digital services
imports, at $42 billion (AED154 billion), also ranked 21st, contributing 1.1 percent to global
imports, reinforcing the UAE’s role as a technology hub.

Services trade breakdown

Services trade totaled AED1.036 trillion ($282 billion) in 2024, with exports of AED646.6 billion
(62.4 percent) and imports of AED389.4 billion. Information services grew by 14 percent, tourism
by 13 percent, computer services by 12 percent, financial services by 9 percent, and transport,
intellectual property, and insurance services by 8 percent each, contributing 26.4 percent to global
trade, the highest share since 2005. The UAE accounted for 41.4 percent of the Middle East’s $1.5
trillion in merchandise exports, with regional exports growing by 3.7 percent and services by 4.1
percent in 2024. Globally, the UAE contributed 2 percent to services exports and 1.3 percent to
imports, with service exports of $176 billion (AED646.6 billion) and imports of $106 billion
(AED389.4 billion).

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