09/06/2026 03:06 AST
Trade through the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority reached a record 491 billion dirhams ($133.7 billion) in 2025, marking its fifth consecutive year of growth.
The authority, known as DIEZ, said total trade value grew by 46 percent compared with the previous year and has quadrupled since 2020.
Imports remained the primary driver of growth for a third consecutive year, while the authority's share of Dubai's non-oil trade rose to 16 percent as the emirate's external trade surpassed 3 trillion dirhams.
Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum said the results reflected the strength of Dubai's economic and trade environment, built under the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai.
"These results further show the continued trust that businesses, investors and trading partners place in Dubai's economic foundations, world-class infrastructure and institutions. They also highlight the important role that Dubai's economic zones play in enabling both regional and international trade and generating long-term economic value," Sheikh Hamdan said.
The performance comes as Gulf economies step up investment in logistics, free zones and non-oil trade as part of broader diversification plans.
Saudi Arabia's non-oil exports reached SR624 billion ($166 billion) in 2025, up 15 percent year on year, while its re-export sector rose to SR139 billion from SR91 billion in 2024.
Oman's non-oil exports increased 7.5 percent to 6.7 billion Omani rials ($17.43 billion), while re-exports rose 20.3 percent to 2.06 billion Omani rials.
DIEZ's growth also highlights rising competition among Gulf hubs to capture high-value trade flows.
Qatar's ports handled about 1.46 million twenty-foot equivalent units in 2025, with transshipment volumes at Hamad Port accounting for nearly half of total throughput and rising 3 percent year on year.
DIEZ's total trade volume rose by 50 percent to 667,800 tonnes in 2025, indicating that growth was supported by increased cargo movement and commercial activity, rather than price effects alone.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, chairman of DIEZ, said the authority's performance demonstrated the resilience of its economic model.
"DIEZ's non-oil trade results for 2025 are a testament to the resilience of our economic model and its capacity to deliver sustainable growth built on value-added activities, logistical integration, and technological advancement," Sheikh Ahmed said.
"Achieving 491 billion dirhams in total trade and raising the authority's contribution to 16 percent of Dubai's trade reaffirms, once again, the pivotal role of DIEZ in advancing the emirate's standing as a global hub for advanced trade," he said.
By sector, machinery, electrical equipment and electronics accounted for more than 70 percent of DIEZ's trade activity and recorded 42 percent growth.
Precious stones, precious metals and pearls followed with a 71 percent increase, contributing approximately 26 percent of total trade. Together, the two sectors represented about 96 percent of DIEZ's overall trade.
China remained DIEZ's largest trading partner, accounting for 28.7 percent of total trade. Saudi Arabia ranked second at 9.6 percent, followed by India at 8 percent.
Mohammed Al-Zarooni, executive chairman of DIEZ, said the results showed that the authority's growth was driven by structural expansion in trade flows and supply chains.
"The evolving partner landscape, particularly the acceleration in trade with Saudi Arabia, creates new opportunities for deeper and more sustainable regional integration," Al-Zarooni said.
Arab News
Please wait...
