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Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, has commended the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority for its record trade performance. The total value of trade across the authority’s three economic zones reached AED246 billion in the first half of 2026, a 17 percent increase over the same period in 2025, according to the Dubai Media Office. This marks the sixth consecutive year that the authority has posted a record first-half trade figure, reflecting continued confidence among investors and global trade partners in Dubai and the UAE.
The Dubai Media Office reported that imports rose 14 percent to AED134.8 billion during the period. Re-exports increased 22 percent to AED108.8 billion, while direct exports totalled AED2.4 billion. Trade volumes reached approximately 270,000 tonnes, the announcement stated, as the zones continued to serve as conduits for international commerce.
DIEZ lifted its contribution to Dubai’s non-oil trade to approximately 16 percent in the first half of 2026, up from 15.4 percent a year earlier, the Dubai Media Office figures show. Trade with international partners exceeded AED127 billion, recording a 22 percent gain from the prior comparable period. These outcomes highlight the growing significance of the authority’s zones in linking regional and global markets.
Sheikh Hamdan affirmed that the sustained growth amid challenges facing global trade demonstrates the strength of Dubai’s economic and logistics ecosystem. He attributed the results to the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The Crown Prince noted that the integration between economic zones and logistics services supports trade flows and market connectivity, according to the media office statement.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of DIEZ, said the first-half performance demonstrates the ability of the economic ecosystem to sustain growth and adapt to rapid changes in global trade flows. The authority’s zones have positioned themselves as key platforms for investment and business expansion under the emirate’s broader economic framework. This latest record extends a consistent upward trajectory in trade activity.
A report reviewed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum placed the UAE’s non-oil foreign trade above AED3.8 trillion for the first time in 2025, according to the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. That performance represented a 27 percent increase from the previous year and provides context for the continued momentum within specialised economic zones. The Dubai Economic Agenda D33 seeks to double the size of the emirate’s economy by 2033, with expanded trade and investment forming central elements of the strategy.
