Page 388 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - APRIL 2025 (Part 1)

4/23/25, 3:29 PM UAE foreign trade reaches AED5.23 trillion in 2024, up from AED3.5 trillion in 2021 – UAE BARQ

UAE foreign trade reaches AED5.23 trillion in 2024, up

from AED3.5 trillion in 2021

3 days ago Economy, News

The United Arab Emirates recorded total foreign trade of AED5.23 trillion (US$1.424 trillion) in 2024, a 49 percent
increase from AED3.5 trillion (US$949 billion) in 2021, according to the World Trade Organisation’s “World Trade
Outlook and Statistics” report.

This robust growth reflects the UAE’s strategic economic vision, reinforcing its position as the leading trade hub in the
Middle East and Africa since 2014 and among the top 20 global trade centres for goods and services.

In a global trade environment marked by 2.9 percent growth in merchandise trade and 6.8 percent in services trade in
2024, the UAE’s performance underscores its resilience amid rising tariffs and uncertainties.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai,
emphasised the UAE’s role as a global trade hub, saying, “In a world of economic and trade challenges, the UAE has
prioritised openness, connectivity, and the free flow of trade, capital, and people, establishing itself as a vital link
between East and West and a global economic centre.”

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum highlighted key achievements from the WTO report:

• Foreign trade reached AED5.23 trillion in 2024, with a trade surplus of AED492.3 billion, positioning the UAE as a
driver of international trade.
• The UAE ranked 11th globally in merchandise exports and 13th in services exports.
• Services exports totaled AED646.6 billion, including AED191 billion in digital services, comprising 30 percent of

service exports.
• Merchandise exports amounted to AED2.22 trillion in 2024.

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