UAE records Dh1.9 trillion in non-oil foreign trade during H1 2026, says Minister of Foreign Trade at AIM Summit

Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade for the UAE, addressed the 15th edition of the AIM Investment Summit 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. He highlighted the Emirates' position as a global hub for trade and investment, attributing it to an open, agile and multi-partnership economy, advanced infrastructure, and a supportive legislative and regulatory environment.

The summit, themed 'Reshaping Global Prosperity: Opening New Investment Pathways Towards a Sustainable and Inclusive Future', attracted 25,000 participants from 191 countries and 540 global speakers.

Al Zeyoudi underscored that the UAE has prepared for global transformations, which are reshaping the trade and investment landscape. These changes are driven by technological advancements, geopolitical shifts, heightened sustainability efforts, and the emergence of new growth centers across regions. He noted that the UAE's non-oil foreign trade surpassed Dh1.9 trillion in the first half of 2026.

In 2025, the UAE attracted $48.3 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI), ranking ninth globally. The cumulative stock of FDI in the UAE exceeded Dh1.17 trillion. Al Zeyoudi emphasized that the next phase will see rapid shifts in the global economy's geography, moving towards technology-led economies, and transforming sustainability into an investment opportunity.

He stressed the importance of investing in future sectors like artificial intelligence, clean energy, climate technology, food and water security, and sustainable infrastructure. The UAE, he said, offers investors a market, a global platform for growth, expansion, and access, and building long-term partnerships that foster knowledge, technology transfer, employment creation, and sustainable, inclusive growth.