The trade volume achieved between the United Arab Emirates and the United States has approached half a trillion dirhams, equivalent to over $135 billion, over the past five years.
According to trade indicators recorded by both the UAE Ministry of Economy and the U.S. Department of Commerce, total trade between the two countries grew by 93.6% last year, reaching a total of 127 billion dirhams (approximately $34.4 billion), compared to 65.6 billion dirhams ($17.8 billion) in 2020.
In terms of trade activities, U.S. exports to the UAE represented 77% of the overall trade between the two nations over the past five years, totaling 385 billion dirhams (about $105 billion).
Meanwhile, total imports surged by a record 329% last year, amounting to 99.2 billion dirhams compared to U.S. exports to the UAE, which did not exceed 21 billion dirhams in 2020. This marks an 8.5% increase from total U.S. exports of 91.5 billion dirhams in 2023.
According to data on the top five U.S. goods exported to the UAE over the past five years, transportation equipment led the list with a value of 97.2 billion dirhams ($26.43 billion). This was followed by computers and technology at 87.2 billion dirhams ($23.2 billion), diverse manufactured goods at 33.1 billion dirhams ($9 billion), and chemical materials at 27.9 billion dirhams ($7.58 billion). Additionally, used goods exports amounted to 27 billion dirhams ($7.36 billion).
On the other hand, total exports, including re-exports, accounted for 23% of the overall trade between the UAE and the U.S. over the past five years, with an approximate total of 115 billion dirhams (over $31 billion).
The total value of UAE exports to the U.S. in 2024 increased by nearly 140% compared to 2020, reaching 11.5 billion dirhams (approximately $3.114 billion), and showed a 12.9% growth from total exports of 24.3 billion dirhams ($6.6 billion) recorded in 2023.
Regarding the types of products exported from the UAE to the U.S. in the last five years, base metals topped the list with a total value of 31.65 billion dirhams (around $8.6 billion), followed by petroleum and coal products at 14.7 billion dirhams ($4 billion).
Exports of oil and gas reached 9.93 billion dirhams (approximately $2.7 billion), while chemical exports totaled 6.25 billion dirhams (around $1.7 billion), and mineral products were valued at 4.9 billion dirhams (about $1.3 billion).
Total UAE exports over 5 years in billion dirhams
Top 5 U.S. Imports
97.2 billion dirhams – Transportation Equipment
87.2 billion dirhams – Technology Devices
33.1 billion dirhams – Diverse Manufactured Goods
27 billion dirhams – Used Goods
27.9 billion dirhams – Chemicals
Top 5 Emirati Exports
31.65 billion dirhams – Base Metals
14.7 billion dirhams – Petroleum Products
9.93 billion dirhams – Oil and Gas
6.25 billion dirhams – Chemicals
4.9 billion dirhams – Mineral Products