Dubai's non-oil foreign trade continued its growth during 2019, by 6%, to reach 1.371 trillion dirhams, compared to 1.299 trillion dirhams in 2018, despite the many challenges and difficulties that negatively affected the international trade movement, so that exports achieved a significant jump in their value At a rate of 22%, recording 155 billion dirhams, while the growth rate in the value of re-exports reached 4% to reach 420 billion dirhams, and in the value of imports 3% to reach 796 billion dirhams.

Future plans

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, stressed that the strong growth of Dubai's foreign trade constitutes an important tributary to support the future economic plans of the emirate, and confirms the success of the steps taken by Dubai to achieve the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, The Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and the goal set by His Highness to reach its foreign trade to two trillion dirhams during the next five years.

His Highness the Crown Prince of Dubai said: “The foreign trade sector added at this level of growth a new achievement to the economic achievements of Dubai, with which it has established its role as a pivotal platform and a key link for international trade, while reflecting the growth of the Emirate’s foreign trade, at a time when global trade is going through great challenges, The extent of Dubai's ability to overcome all obstacles and continue its commercial and economic growth, especially with the beginning of the year of preparing for the 50th, during which we are preparing to enter a promising stage of economic development, during which we will consolidate the success of our inspiring development model ».

His Highness added: «The foreign trade sector is witnessing a new start, whose path was determined by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, while the efforts of institutions and government agencies involved in developing trade are combined to achieve this goal, by providing the best opportunities for traders and investors with the evolving capabilities of Dubai, in the ports infrastructure. Airports, free zones and land roads, which are accompanied by a global distinction made by Dubai in the field of logistic, commercial and customs services, as these elements are integrated in the implementation of the goals of the Dubai Silk Line strategy, and enhancing our ability to benefit from the development of the trade and investment environment in the logic Through the pioneering role of Dubai in linking regional and global markets.

Trade amount

According to the data, the volume of Dubai's non-oil foreign trade increased in 2019 by 19%, to reach about 109 million tons compared to 91 million tons in 2018, and the volume of re-export trade recorded a record jump, as its quantity increased by 48% to 17 million tons Moreover, the volume of exports made a record jump by 45% to reach 19 million tons, while imports increased by 9% to reach 72 million tons, to crown Dubai with this strong performance for a decade of commercial prosperity.

Challenging obstacles

The growth in the volume of foreign trade shows how Dubai is able to overcome all the difficulties and obstacles witnessed by the international economy, as a result of financial crises and trade wars, as the emirate succeeded in achieving exceptional growth in the value of its foreign trade during 2019, and was able to increase the value of its foreign trade during the period from In the year 2010 to 2019, it increased by 52%, while the growth rate in the volume of this trade during the same period reached about 70%, thanks to a set of important factors, foremost of which is the strength of ties that unite Dubai with its trading partners, and the continuous work to expand the circle of commercial partnership by exploring markets. New, as well as flexibility The large sector of the foreign trade sector, and its ability to constantly find alternative and new markets, to efficiently compensate for the slowdown in the markets of countries experiencing emergency conditions that may affect their economic and commercial performance.

New opportunities

This achievement comes in light of Dubai's efforts to support the flows of trade traffic around the world, through the continuous development of the emirate's technical, logistical and service capabilities, and the UAE’s hosting of Expo 2020 Dubai will be an important occasion to discover new opportunities for commercial growth at the international level, establishing Significant progress on the UAE and Dubai site on the world economy map.

Empowering investors

To that, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Dubai Ports World Group and Chairman of Ports and Customs and Free Zone Corporation, said that the group will continue to work to enable merchants and investors to benefit from its global presence in more than 80 ports and land and sea stations, which extend across continents The world is to develop their trade with the countries in which we undertake to develop and manage the ports and terminals there, as well as the cases and destinations of «Emirates Airlines» spread across the world, in addition to the capabilities that we provide to companies and merchants from all over the world through the Dubai Silk Line.

He added that Dubai succeeded in establishing the best free zones at the level of the region, which is able to compete strongly globally, as traders and investors touch daily the extent of excellence in the logistical and commercial services that we offer in «Jafza» and other regions, and make them able to make the most of the unique features of our free zones, Supported best technologies and smart applications.

Dubai Crown Prince:

"The strong growth of Dubai's foreign trade is an important tributary to support the future economic plans of the emirate."

"The foreign trade sector added with this level of growth a new achievement for Dubai's economic achievements."

Gold, jewelry and diamonds

Precious metals, jewelry and gemstones maintained their top positions in Dubai's foreign trade in 2019, with gold, jewelry and diamonds trading value of 370 billion dirhams, a growth of 7% compared to 2018.

Gold came in first place in Dubai's foreign trade with a value of 169.5 billion dirhams, then mobile, smart and fixed phones in second place with a value of 164 billion dirhams with a growth of 9%, jewelry in third place with a value of 116.6 billion dirhams, and petroleum oils in fourth place with a value of 85.4 billion dirhams with a growth of 55 %, And diamonds are in fifth place with a value of 83.9 billion dirhams.

592 billion dirhams of free zone trade

Dubai's free zones were characterized by a significant growth in foreign trade in 2019, which increased by 11%, amounting to 592 billion dirhams. The value of direct trade was 770 billion dirhams, with a growth rate of 2%, and the value of customs warehouse trade was 9 billion dirhams.

Trade transmitted by land witnessed a strong growth of 11%, to reach 228 billion dirhams, and air-borne trade achieved growth of 5%, to reach 641 billion dirhams, and seaborne trade achieved growth of 4%, amounting to 502 billion AED.

Dubai's most important trading partners

Dubai's largest trading partners maintained their positions in Dubai's foreign trade in 2019, so China remained the first trading partner with a value of 150 billion dirhams, India is the second trading partner with a value of 135 billion dirhams, followed by the states with a value of 77.7 billion dirhams, then Switzerland with a value of 60 billion dirhams. Saudi Arabia came in the position of the first trading partner in the Gulf and Arab countries, and the fifth in the world with a value of 56 billion dirhams.