Al Zeyoudi: UAE maintains global trade leadership

Sharjah 24 – WAM: Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, affirmed that the United Arab Emirates continues to lead and maintain its competitive edge on the global trade map, guided by its visionary leadership. His remarks followed the release of the World Trade Organisation’s latest report titled “World Trade Outlook and Statistics.”

UAE among top global trade hubs since 2014

In a statement to Emirates News Agency (WAM), Al Zeyoudi noted that the UAE has consistently ranked among the world's leading trade hubs since 2014. It holds the top position in the Middle East and Africa for trade in goods and services, with trade in services accounting for 20 percent of the country’s overall trade volume.

Drivers of growth: Open economy and CEPA agreements

Al Zeyoudi attributed the UAE’s trade growth to its open and flexible economic policies, investor-friendly environment, and the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA) programme. These elements have allowed the UAE to build a strong global trade network connecting it with major international markets.

Role of private and semi-government sectors

He also highlighted the crucial role that semi-government entities and the private sector play in enhancing the UAE’s international trade stature and driving sustainable growth.

Strong start to 2025: Trade surges by 25%

Preliminary figures show that the UAE’s foreign trade surged by 25 percent in January 2025, continuing the upward trajectory seen in recent years.

UAE among top exporters of digital services

The minister noted that the UAE ranked among the top exporters of digital services in 2024. Key sectors fueling this growth include finance, hospitality, transport, and information services, with expansion rates ranging from 9 to 14 percent.

Global trade outlook: Modest recovery expected

According to the WTO, global goods trade is projected to contract by 0.2 percent in 2025 due to existing tariffs, with a modest 2.5 percent rebound anticipated in 2026. In contrast, global trade in services is forecasted to grow by 4 percent in 2025 and 4.1 percent in 2026.

Services reach highest share of global trade since 2005

The report also highlighted that in 2024, global trade in goods rose by 2.9 percent and services by 6.8 percent, while global GDP grew by 2.8 percent. The value of goods exports hit US$24.43 trillion, and services climbed to US$8.69 trillion — accounting for 26.4 percent of global trade, the highest share since 2005.