emirates7 - Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, emphasized that the UAE, under the strategic guidance of its visionary leadership, continues to solidify its position as a key player in global trade. His remarks came in response to the latest findings from the World Trade Organization (WTO) report titled “World Trade Outlook and Statistics.”
Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Al Zeyoudi noted that since 2014, the UAE has consistently ranked among the world's top trading nations, securing the leading spot in the Middle East and Africa for trade in both goods and services. He highlighted that services now constitute approximately 20 percent of the UAE’s overall global trade.
He attributed this sustained growth in foreign trade to the country’s open-market policies, its strong appeal to international investors, adaptable regulatory framework, and the successful implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA). These elements have collectively strengthened the UAE’s integration into the global trading system.
Al Zeyoudi also acknowledged the essential contributions of semi-government bodies and private sector players in enhancing the UAE’s international trade stature.
He shared that the UAE's foreign trade continues to expand significantly, with preliminary data showing a 25 percent year-on-year increase in January 2025 alone.
Furthermore, Al Zeyoudi revealed that the UAE ranked among the world’s top exporters of digital services in 2024—a sign of robust progress in this critical sector. Noteworthy service areas experiencing strong growth include finance, hospitality, information, and transport, with growth rates ranging from 9 to 14 percent.
According to the WTO, global trade in goods is projected to decline by 0.2 percent in 2025 due to current tariff regimes, followed by a modest 2.5 percent recovery in 2026. Conversely, services trade—which is less impacted by tariffs—is expected to grow by 4.0 percent in 2025 and 4.1 percent in 2026.
The report also showed that in 2024, global trade in goods rose by 2.9 percent while services trade surged by 6.8 percent. Despite these increases, global GDP grew by 2.8 percent. The value of goods exports reached US$24.43 trillion (a 2 percent rise), while services exports jumped by 9 percent to US$8.69 trillion. Notably, services accounted for 26.4 percent of global trade in 2024—the highest level since 2005.
Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Al Zeyoudi noted that since 2014, the UAE has consistently ranked among the world's top trading nations, securing the leading spot in the Middle East and Africa for trade in both goods and services. He highlighted that services now constitute approximately 20 percent of the UAE’s overall global trade.
He attributed this sustained growth in foreign trade to the country’s open-market policies, its strong appeal to international investors, adaptable regulatory framework, and the successful implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA). These elements have collectively strengthened the UAE’s integration into the global trading system.
Al Zeyoudi also acknowledged the essential contributions of semi-government bodies and private sector players in enhancing the UAE’s international trade stature.
He shared that the UAE's foreign trade continues to expand significantly, with preliminary data showing a 25 percent year-on-year increase in January 2025 alone.
Furthermore, Al Zeyoudi revealed that the UAE ranked among the world’s top exporters of digital services in 2024—a sign of robust progress in this critical sector. Noteworthy service areas experiencing strong growth include finance, hospitality, information, and transport, with growth rates ranging from 9 to 14 percent.
According to the WTO, global trade in goods is projected to decline by 0.2 percent in 2025 due to current tariff regimes, followed by a modest 2.5 percent recovery in 2026. Conversely, services trade—which is less impacted by tariffs—is expected to grow by 4.0 percent in 2025 and 4.1 percent in 2026.
The report also showed that in 2024, global trade in goods rose by 2.9 percent while services trade surged by 6.8 percent. Despite these increases, global GDP grew by 2.8 percent. The value of goods exports reached US$24.43 trillion (a 2 percent rise), while services exports jumped by 9 percent to US$8.69 trillion. Notably, services accounted for 26.4 percent of global trade in 2024—the highest level since 2005.