The UAE’s federal export credit agency has adapted its approach to mirror the country’s economic diversification drive, according to a report by the Emirates News Agency. ECI, as the official export credit provider, facilitates risk mitigation for businesses venturing into new international markets. This development occurs amid the UAE’s push to solidify its status as a premier trade and logistics center in the Middle East.
World Trade Organisation statistics have placed the UAE among the top 10 exporting countries globally for the first time. The organisation’s World Trade Prospects and Statistics report attributed this rise to the country’s central position in international supply chains. Non-oil merchandise trade reached AED 3.8 trillion in 2025, contributing to overall foreign trade exceeding AED 6 trillion that year, the CFO Centre reported.
International Monetary Fund data projects UAE real GDP growth at 5.4 percent in 2026, following 4 percent growth in 2024. The UAE Central Bank reported foreign reserves of more than $215 billion, bolstering the financial infrastructure for expanded trade activities. These economic metrics provide context for ECI’s enhanced support to exporters.
Figures from the Observatory of Economic Complexity indicate that UAE exports totaled $311 billion in 2024, up from $273 billion in 2019. The data positions the UAE as the 25th largest exporter worldwide with high per capita export values. Strategic investments in ports, airports and free zones have underpinned this export performance, according to trade analyses.
In its statement, ECI detailed how its insurance products and financing solutions are designed to help Emirati firms navigate geopolitical and economic uncertainties in global markets. The agency focuses on sectors aligned with national priorities such as technology, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing. The initiatives form part of broader efforts to expand the country’s international commercial footprint.
A CFO Centre assessment projected the UAE’s total foreign trade to exceed AED 6.5 trillion in 2026, driven by new economic partnerships and supply chain realignments. The country regularly hosts major international trade exhibitions that connect local businesses with global opportunities. ECI’s risk coverage forms a key component in enabling these trade expansions.
