Abu Dhabi’s non-oil trade rose sharply in the first half of 2025, growing 34.7% year-on-year to reach $53.2 billion (AED 195.4 billion), driven by booming export and re-export activity, according to data released on Sunday. The growth supports the emirate’s ongoing strategy to diversify beyond hydrocarbons.
This compares to $39.48 billion (AED 145 billion) in non-oil trade recorded during the same period last year.
Exports climbed 64% to $21.37 billion (AED 78.5 billion), significantly up from $13.04 billion (AED 47.9 billion) in H1 2024. Imports rose to $21.78 billion (AED 80 billion), up 15%, while re-exports increased 35% to $9.80 billion (AED 36 billion), up from $7.24 billion (AED 26.6 billion).
The emirate’s broader economy posted 3.4% growth in Q1 2025, reaching $79.22 billion (AED 291 billion), according to the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi. Non-oil GDP led the expansion with 6.1% growth, totalling $44.54 billion (AED 163.6 billion).
For the first time, non-oil sectors contributed 56.2% of the emirate’s total GDP, underlining the effectiveness of its diversification efforts. Abu Dhabi continues to lead the UAE economy, responsible for over two-thirds of national output—surpassing Dubai.
Key sectors driving this growth include manufacturing, which saw a 5% increase in added value to AED 28.5 billion ($7.75 billion). Additionally, new industrial licences grew 4.7%, while operational factories rose by 65%, highlighting the rapid development of Abu Dhabi’s industrial base.
