The UAE ranked 9th globally in goods exports in 2025, entering the world's top 10 for the first time according to the World Trade Organization's latest World Trade Prospects and Statistics report.
Total goods and services trade reached USD 1.637 trillion, up from USD 949 billion in 2021, generating a trade surplus of approximately USD 159 billion – a 19% year-on-year increase. Goods trade accounted for USD 1.33 trillion, while services trade surpassed USD 300 billion for the first time, with exports comprising more than 60% of that total.
Digital services exports reached USD 33 billion, placing the UAE 25th globally, while sectors including financial services, logistics and information technology recorded growth rates of between 9% and 14%. The UAE has held its position as the leading trading nation across the Middle East and Africa since 2014.
Gulf Economist Staff Writer