The UAE has entered the world’s top 10 exporters for the first time, according to the World Trade Organization’s latest World Trade Prospects and Statistics report, marking a significant milestone in the country’s economic diversification strategy.

The data reflects a sharp acceleration in trade activity. The UAE’s total goods and services trade rose to $1.637 trillion in 2025, up from $949 billion in 2021, underscoring its expanding role as a global trade and logistics hub.

Goods trade reached $1.33 trillion, with exports accounting for 53% of the total. Meanwhile, services trade climbed to approximately $310 billion, with exports making up more than 60%, a signal of the country’s growing strength in high-value sectors beyond oil.

That momentum translated into a trade surplus of around $159 billion in 2025, up 19% year-on-year. Globally, the UAE ranked ninth in goods exports and 13th in imports.

A key highlight is the rapid rise of services trade, which surpassed the $300 billion mark for the first time. The WTO attributes this growth to the UAE’s outward-looking policies, business-friendly environment, and continued investments in competitiveness and global connectivity.

In global terms, the UAE accounted for 3.3% of goods exports and 2.8% of imports, while contributing 2% of global services exports and 1.4% of services imports.

Digital services are also emerging as a strategic growth area. The UAE ranked 25th globally, with exports reaching $33 billion, representing 0.6% of global digital services exports and 17% of the country’s total services exports.

The country has maintained its position as the leading trading nation across the Middle East and Africa since 2014.

Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, said the top 10 ranking reflects both the UAE’s competitiveness and growing global confidence in its economy. He noted that despite ongoing geopolitical challenges, the country remains focused on strengthening its position in global trade.

He highlighted the role of economic diversification, with sectors such as financial services, logistics, hospitality, information technology, and transport recording growth rates between 9% and 14%—demonstrating the economy’s ability to adapt to global shifts.

Looking ahead, the UAE is expanding its trade partnerships through its Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) program, enabling businesses to access new markets with fewer barriers while boosting the global competitiveness of national exports.

The government is also continuing to enhance its legislative and regulatory frameworks, alongside deploying advanced technologies to improve supply chain efficiency.

Al Zeyoudi reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to open trade and international cooperation, calling for reforms to the WTO to better align with rapid changes in the global economy and ensure a fair, transparent system for all countries.

He added that the UAE will continue to turn challenges into opportunities, advancing policies that prioritize sustainability, innovation, and long-term economic diversification.

The WTO report also flagged potential headwinds for global trade. Goods trade growth is expected to slow to 1.9% in 2026, down from 4.6% in 2025, amid geopolitical tensions and rising energy prices, before recovering to 2.6% in 2027.

Services trade growth is projected to ease to 4.8% in 2026 before edging up to 5.1% in 2027. In a higher energy price scenario, goods trade growth could slow further to 1.4%, while services may ease to 4.1%.

Against this backdrop, the UAE is positioning itself to sustain its upward trajectory, leveraging resilience, policy agility, and global integration to deepen its role in the future of trade.