UAE Aims to Double Non-Oil Foreign Trade to $18.5 Trillion by 2035
▼ Summary
– The UAE’s non-oil foreign trade grew 24% year-on-year in H1 2025, which is 14 times the global average rate.
– UAE Minister Al Gergawi attributed this growth to the nation’s open trade policy and comprehensive economic partnership agreements with 32 countries.
– The UAE’s GDP is projected to grow 4.9% in 2025 and 5.3% in 2026, with non-oil GDP expected to increase 4.5% in 2025 and 4.8% in 2026.
– The UAE ranks 27th globally and first regionally in industrial competitiveness and 5th globally on the Quality Infrastructure for Sustainable Development Index.
– The UAE leads globally in AI adoption in the workplace and is the world’s largest sovereign AI investor, with investments exceeding AED543 billion since 2024.
The United Arab Emirates has set an ambitious target to more than double its non-oil foreign trade, aiming to reach over AED68 trillion ($18.52 trillion) by 2035. This bold objective was announced by His Excellency Mohammad Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs, during the Emirates International Press Conference 2025. The UAE’s non-oil foreign trade in goods and services is expected to more than double over the next ten years, reflecting the nation’s strategic pivot toward economic diversification and global trade leadership.
Minister Al Gergawi credited this projected expansion to the country’s open trade policy framework. He emphasized that the UAE has successfully negotiated comprehensive economic partnership agreements with 32 nations worldwide, creating a robust network of international trade relationships. The effectiveness of this strategy is already evident in recent performance metrics. During the first half of 2025, the UAE’s non-oil foreign trade surged by 24 percent compared to the same period last year, a growth rate that significantly outpaces the global average by fourteen times.
This trade expansion aligns with strong overall economic projections for the UAE. His Excellency Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, projected that the nation’s GDP will grow by 4.9 percent in 2025, accelerating to 5.3 percent in 2026. The oil sector is expected to demonstrate particularly strong performance with growth rates of 5.8 percent in 2025 and 6.5 percent in 2026. Meanwhile, non-oil GDP is forecast to expand by 4.5 percent in 2025 and 4.8 percent in 2026, indicating balanced economic development across sectors.
The industrial sector represents another area of significant achievement for the UAE. His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, highlighted the nation’s improved global standing in industrial competitiveness. The UAE now ranks 27th worldwide and first regionally in the UNIDO Competitiveness Industrial Performance Index, advancing five positions since 2020. Additionally, the country achieved fifth place globally on the Quality Infrastructure for Sustainable Development Index 2024, climbing six spots since 2022. This performance places the UAE in the ‘L’ category alongside nations like Switzerland, Singapore, and Finland.
Looking ahead, Minister Al Jaber outlined three strategic focus areas for continued industrial advancement. Under competitiveness and sustainability, the “Make it in the Emirates” initiative will strengthen national industries while comprehensive economic partnerships will enhance exports of domestic products. The advanced technology pillar emphasizes accelerating technological transformation through artificial intelligence adoption and supporting future-oriented sectors while developing national talent. The national content strategy focuses on increasing local manufacturing, import substitution, job creation, and workforce training programs.
Artificial intelligence represents another domain where the UAE demonstrates global leadership. Minister Al Gergawi revealed that the nation leads worldwide in workplace AI adoption according to Microsoft research. His Excellency Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, further elaborated on the country’s AI achievements. The UAE has become the world’s largest sovereign investor in artificial intelligence, with investments exceeding AED543 billion since 2024 according to Boston Consulting Group analysis.
To maintain this momentum, the UAE has established Chief AI Officer positions across key sectors and government entities to accelerate implementation. The country has also formally integrated the National Artificial Intelligence System as an advisory member of the UAE Cabinet, institutionalizing AI governance at the highest levels of decision-making. These coordinated efforts position the UAE at the forefront of both economic diversification and technological innovation on the global stage.
(Source: Economy Middle East)
