In a strong indication of ongoing economic diversification, Abu Dhabi’s non-oil foreign trade surged by 34.7% year-on-year to hit $53.2 billion (AED 195.4 billion) in the first six months of 2025, according to government data released on Sunday.
This marks a significant rise from the $39.48 billion (AED 145 billion) recorded during the same period in 2024, driven by substantial increases across exports, imports, and re-exports.
Non-oil exports jumped 64% to reach $21.37 billion (AED 78.5 billion), up from $13.04 billion (AED 47.9 billion) in H1 last year. Imports rose by 15% to $21.78 billion (AED 80 billion), while re-exports increased 35% to $9.80 billion (AED 36 billion), compared with $7.24 billion (AED 26.6 billion) the previous year.
The emirate’s economy expanded by 3.4% in Q1 2025 to $79.22 billion (AED 291 billion), led by non-oil GDP growth of 6.1%, which totalled $44.54 billion (AED 163.6 billion), according to Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi figures.
For the first time, non-oil activities accounted for 56.2% of the emirate’s total GDP—a major milestone in its diversification strategy. Abu Dhabi remains the UAE’s economic powerhouse, contributing more than two-thirds of national GDP and outpacing Dubai.
Notably, the manufacturing sector added AED 28.5 billion ($7.75 billion) in value—a 5% year-on-year rise. The emirate also recorded a 4.7% uptick in new industrial licences and a 65% increase in factories beginning production, reflecting solid industrial momentum.
