1.93 Trillion Dirhams in Non-Oil Trade for the UAE in 7 Months
The non-oil trade in the United Arab Emirates continues to achieve impressive figures, reaching a value of 1.93 trillion dirhams during the first seven months of 2025. This growth of 24.7% compared to the same period last year reflects the UAE’s growing economic strength. In this context, the “Unified UAE Figures” report, released during the annual government meetings, reveals the various dynamics contributing to this thriving trade.
Exports and Imports Reach Record Numbers
In a remarkable set of data, the report indicated that the UAE’s non-oil exports gained strong momentum, valued at 432.2 billion dirhams, marking a growth of 44.8% compared to the same period in 2024. On the other hand, re-exports reached 396.2 billion dirhams, with a growth rate of 12.8%. Meanwhile, imports continued to perform well, amounting to 1.11 trillion dirhams, an increase of 22.7% from last year.
Leading Sectors in Trade
Precious metals and gemstones emerged as the most significant goods in the UAE’s global trade, valued at approximately 739 billion dirhams. This was followed by other categories such as machinery and electrical equipment at 256 billion dirhams, tools at about 158 billion dirhams, as well as vehicles and motorcycles valued at 138 billion dirhams. This wide diversity makes the UAE’s non-oil trade a significant force in global markets.
Increase in Business Licenses
Furthermore, the number of business licenses in the UAE witnessed a notable increase, rising to 1.388 million licenses by the end of July. The report indicates that the number of business owners reached 2.215 million, reflecting a significant development in this area. In recent years, the number of new business licenses has increased from 145,000 in 2021 to 260,000 new licenses in 2024.
Overview of the Labor Market
In the context of the workforce, data from the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center showed that the labor force participation rate reached 81.4%, with an unemployment rate of 1.9%, one of the lowest globally. Moreover, the number of unemployed individuals decreased by 6.2% compared to last year, as economic activities contribute to enhancing participation in the labor market, reflecting increasing stability in the UAE economy.
The non-oil trade in the UAE continues to thrive strongly, making it a model to emulate in the business world. The country has long been a strategic trading hub, and it appears to be steadily advancing its role in the global economy.