The UAE's non-oil trade volume reached a record high in the first half of the year

The latest data recently released by the United Arab Emirates shows that in the first half of 2026, the country’s non-oil foreign trade reached 1.94 trillion UAE dirhams (1 USD is approximately 3.67 dirhams), marking a year-on-year increase of 13.1% and a new record high. According to the data, in the first half of this year, non-oil exports became the main driver behind the UAE’s trade growth. During the same period, the UAE’s non-oil goods exports reached a record 452.8 billion dirhams, with the share of non-oil foreign trade increasing from 21.3% in the same period last year to 23.4%. In terms of product structure, gold was the largest item in the UAE’s non-oil trade, with trade volume increasing by 48.8% year-on-year in the first half of the year, followed by communication equipment, jewelry, automobiles and others. Earlier this year, regional conflicts and disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz temporarily impacted the UAE’s crude oil exports and maritime transportation. According to the UAE’s foreign trade authorities, the record high non-oil trade in the first half of the year reflects the positive effects of the UAE’s strategy to build a diversified and open economy. (Xinhua News Agency)