Finance
UAE Non-Oil Foreign Trade Reaches Historic AED 1.937 Trillion in First Half of 2026
High-Value Non-Oil Exports Jump 23.9% as National Economic Diversification Accelerates Across Key Global Markets
By 19Network Editorial Team · Jul 21, 2026 · 5 min read
High-Value Non-Oil Exports Jump 23.9% as National Economic Diversification Accelerates Across Key Global Markets
DUBAI — The United Arab Emirates has set another historic economic record, with non-oil foreign trade reaching AED 1.937 trillion during the first half of 2026. The figures were officially reviewed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, who highlighted the national economy's continued momentum and growing global trade footprint. The recorded trade total represents a 13.1% increase compared to H1 2025, a 39.6% increase over H1 2024, and a 54.5% jump over H1 2023 performance, demonstrating sustained long-term growth across all export and re-export metrics. Non-Oil Export Expansion A key takeaway from the H1 2026 results is the rapid growth of national non-oil exports, which rose 23.9% year-on-year to hit a record AED 452.8 billion. Non-oil exports now account for 23.4% of total foreign trade—up from 21.3% a year earlier and 16.9% in 2023—underlining a structural shift toward domestic manufacturing, industrial value addition, and high-tech exports. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid noted: "These figures are more than trade statistics; they are a testament to the strength of our economy, the effectiveness of our development choices, and the world's confidence in the UAE." China retained its position as the UAE’s largest overall non-oil trade partner at AED 180.7 billion, followed closely by Switzerland (AED 138.4 billion) and India (AED 107.5 billion). Gold remained the leading commodity in UAE non-oil…