RIYADH: Abu Dhabi’s non-oil foreign trade rose 36 percent year on year to exceed 415.4 billion dirhams ($113 billion) in 2025, driven by expanding commercial activity and stronger economic partnerships with global markets.
Data from Abu Dhabi Customs shows that non-oil exports saw an annual surge of 63 percent to 175.4 billion dirhams in 2025.
Imports rose 22 percent to 170.4 billion dirhams, while re-exports increased 20 percent to 70 billion dirhams.
According to a statement, the figures highlight the emirate’s economic resilience, progress in diversification, and strength of its trade infrastructure.
This performance reflects a broader regional trend, with Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy seeing an annual rise of 4.9 percent in 2025, driven by growth in trade, services, and private sector development, according to official data.
In a statement marking the Abu Dhabi figures, Chairman of the emirate’s Department of Economic Development Ahmed Jassim Al-Zaabi said: “The non-oil foreign trade indicators for 2025 confirm the efficiency and success of the integrated system developed by Abu Dhabi to enhance efficiency, growth, and sustainability.
“This growth is driven by consistent efforts in policy, infrastructure, and market access, enabling trade flows to grow rapidly and reliably.”
He added that the strength of non-oil export growth and the sustained increase in imports and re-exports demonstrate the high level of integration within the global trade flow system and Abu Dhabi’s competitive position in several key trade corridors.
“We remain focused on expanding partnerships, developing logistics capabilities, and enhancing the efficiency of foreign trade, thereby reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s role as a trusted hub for global trade,” Al-Zaabi said.
Rashed Lahej Al-Mansoori, director general of Abu Dhabi Customs, said: “These results are a testament to the success of Abu Dhabi’s policies in establishing a competitive economic model based on diversification, sustainability, and openness, in line with the Emirate’s strategic vision.
“This accelerated growth reflects the effectiveness of partnerships with the public and private sectors and underscores the role of the customs system as a strategic partner in supporting the business environment.”
The newly released statistics further showed that foreign trade through airports accounted for 33.5 percent of the total in 2025, compared to 35 percent via land ports and 31.5 percent through seaports, underscoring Abu Dhabi Customs’ success in strengthening trade resilience and ensuring the smooth flow of goods across transport channels.
Across the wider region, non-oil business activity remained largely resilient in 2025, with the Purchasing Managers’ Index for the UAE standing at 54.2 in December, well above the 50 mark that signals expansion, according to S&P Global.
Similar expansion trends were recorded in Kuwait and Egypt, highlighting sustained momentum in non-oil sectors.
