DUBAI, July 20 (Xinhua) -- The non-oil foreign trade of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reached a record 1.937 trillion dirhams (about 527.4 billion U.S. dollars) in the first half of 2026, up 13.1 percent from a year earlier, while non-oil exports also hit an all-time high of 452.8 billion dirhams, a 23.9 percent increase, the official news agency WAM reported.
Compared to the same periods in 2024, 2023, and 2022, non-oil foreign trade grew 39.6 percent, 54.5 percent, and 78.8 percent, respectively, reflecting sustained growth, official data released Sunday and cited by WAM showed.
Non-oil exports were the main driver of the trade growth, with their share of total non-oil foreign trade rising to 23.4 percent from 21.3 percent a year earlier, according to the report.
Statistics showed that China remained the UAE's largest non-oil trading partner in the first half of the year, followed by Switzerland.
Gold remained the UAE's largest non-oil traded commodity, with trade worth 706.2 billion dirhams in the first half, up 48.8 percent from a year earlier. Telecommunications equipment, gold jewellery, automobiles and diamonds followed.
The growth came despite regional conflict triggered by the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade said that the record non-oil trade performance reflected progress in the country's strategy to build a diversified and open economy, as well as continued global confidence in the country as a regional hub for trade, investment, and logistics. ■
