Exports grew 25 per cent to Dhs50.5bn, representing a volume of 5 million tonnes (up 20 per cent), and imports accounted for Dhs204.8bn, growing 9 per cent. The value of re-exports reached Dhs99bn, increasing 5.5 per cent. Direct trade in Q1 2021 totalled Dhs217bn, up 15 per cent over Q1 2020, while trade through free zones reached Dhs135bn, growing 2 per cent. Customs warehouse was recorded at Dhs2.3bn, representing an increase of 23 per cent. Airborne trade accounted for Dhs179bn (up 15 per cent), sea trade reached Dhs120bn (an increase of 3 per cent), while land trade touched Dhs55.3bn (a growth of 7 per cent). China maintained its position as Dubai’s largest trading partner in Q1 2021, with Dhs44bn worth of trade, representing a growth of 30 per cent. India came in second with Dhs35bn, growing 17 per cent, followed by the US at Dhs15.4bn. Saudi Arabia also remained Dubai’s largest Gulf and Arab trade partner, and its fourth largest global trade partner, with Dhs14.7bn worth of trade, growing 20 per cent, followed by Turkey in fifth place with Dhs12bn, representing a significant increase of 72 per cent.
Gold topped the list of commodities in Dubai’s Q1 external trade at Dhs63bn, growing 27 per cent, followed by telecoms at Dhs50bn, up 32 per cent. Diamonds registered a record growth of 61 per cent and came third in the list with Dhs29bn, followed by jewellery at Dhs17bn, and vehicle trade which grew 9 per cent to reach Dhs14bn. The ambitious target of Dubai’s five-year strategy to raise the value of external trade to Dhs2 trillion and consolidate its position as a bridge connecting regional and international markets by constantly enhancing its infrastructure and logistics services.