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Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi stressed that the UAE has established its position as a global hub for trade and investment during the opening of the 15th edition of the AIM Investment Summit at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The minister, who chairs the event, attributed this standing to an open and agile economy supported by advanced infrastructure together with legislative and regulatory settings that favour business. He noted that these elements have strengthened the country’s capacity to convert global transformations into opportunities for expansion. The summit opened under the theme Reshaping Global Prosperity: Opening New Investment Pathways Towards a Sustainable and Inclusive Future and drew participants from 191 countries.
Al Zeyoudi explained that the UAE had prepared early for ongoing global economic shifts driven by technological development, geopolitical realignments, sustainability acceleration and new regional growth centres. According to the minister, the nation has sustained development of an economic model rooted in openness and international partnerships that delivered non-oil foreign trade exceeding Dh1.9 trillion in the first half of 2026. He added that this performance illustrates the effectiveness of policies focused on diversification and resilience amid worldwide uncertainties.
The minister highlighted that the UAE attracted FDI inflows of $48.3 billion during 2025, securing ninth place among the largest global destinations for such investment. Cumulative FDI stock in the country has surpassed Dh1.17 trillion, he stated in his address. Al Zeyoudi forecast that the next phase of global economic evolution will feature rapid changes in economic geography along with a transition to technology-led systems that treat sustainability as a core investment opportunity.
WAM reported that the precise non-oil foreign trade total for the first half of 2026 stood at Dh1.937 trillion, reflecting 13.1 per cent annual growth from the same period in 2025. Non-oil exports achieved a record Dh452.8 billion in the six-month span, rising 23.9 per cent year on year and increasing their contribution to overall non-oil trade to 23.4 per cent, the official news agency added. These outcomes follow sustained expansion that saw non-oil trade rise 39.6 per cent from the first half of 2024 and 78.8 per cent from the equivalent period in 2022.
China remained the top non-oil trading partner with Dh180.7 billion in flows while Switzerland and India followed with Dh138.4 billion and Dh107.5 billion respectively, according to official data. Gold led traded commodities at Dh706.2 billion, up 48.8 per cent year on year, ahead of telecommunications equipment valued at Dh189.7 billion, WAM figures show. The UAE has signed 37 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements with 18 now in force, driving trade with those partners to Dh304.3 billion in the first half of 2026.
