UAE’s non-oil foreign trade reached about Dhs.1.8 trillion during the period from 2003 to 2007, according to the Federal Customs Authority.
Imports accounted for Dhs.1.2 trillion while exports and re-exports stood at Dhs.3.1.billion and Dhs.3.4 billion respectively.
According to Mohammed Khalifa bin Fahd Al Muhairi, Director General of the Federal Custom Authority, UAE foreign trade by value rose by 109%, that is, from Dhs.3.209 billion in 2003 to Dhs.563 billion in 2007. This translates to Dhs.353.7 billion.
Citing statistics, Al Muhairi told a news conference Wednesday that the UAE embarked on trade transactions with some 198 countries in six continents. Asia and the Pacific region topped trade partners with 46%, followed by Europe with 27% and North Africa with 12%.
The Americas, the Caribbean as well as East South, West and Central Africa, accounted for 7.9% and 3% at a total amount of Dhs44.4 billion, Dhs16.5 billion and Dhs6.2 billion respectively, while the free zones accounted for 1.4% at a total amount of Dhs7.9 billion in 2007.
The top ten of UAE import sources in 2007 were China, India, Japan, the US, Germany, Italy, the UK, Saudi Arabia, France and Switzerland respectively, with total import from these countries reaching Dhs253 billion, representing 63.6% of the UAE’s total import in 2007, the statistics shows.
India, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, China, Jebel Ali Free Zone, Iraq and Switzerland respectively were the top ten countries for UAE non-oil export, accounting for Dhs 24 billion in 2007. The figure represents 66%, according to the statistics, which also shows that the top ten countries for UAE’s re-export during the same period were Iran, India, Iraq, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Jebel Ali Free Zone, Belgium and Kuwait respectively, having accounted for Dhs 80.5 billion, which represents 62.6% of the total re-export.
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