According to the Emirates News Agency, the UAE leverages investment strength, logistics hub status to bolster BRICS’ global economic weight as a full member of the grouping since January 2024. The Gulf state is scheduled to participate in the 18th BRICS Summit hosted by India in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. BRICS economies accounted for around 31 percent of the UAE’s total non-oil foreign trade in 2025, including 34 percent of imports, with the figures reflecting deepening commercial ties across the expanded bloc.
Emirates News Agency data places UAE non-oil foreign trade with BRICS countries at more than $312 billion in 2025, a 28.5 percent increase from $243 billion a year earlier.[[1]](https://economymiddleeast.com/news/uae-brics-non-oil-trade-tops-312-billion-in-2025-up-28-5-percent-as-investment-logistics-partnerships-expand/) Trade with China reached $111.5 billion during the period, rising 24.5 percent and crossing the $100 billion threshold for the first time. Similar expansion has occurred with India, Brazil and other members, driven by cooperation in industry, technology and infrastructure projects.
The World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index assigned the UAE a score of 4.0, aligning the country with top global performers in infrastructure, customs efficiency and international shipments. UAE authorities have established multimodal trade corridors linking BRICS markets to the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia, one of which has shortened cargo transit times between Karachi Port and Uzbekistan to approximately 10 days. These networks position the UAE as a vital connector for the group’s supply chain resilience initiatives.
fDi Intelligence’s Greenfield FDI Performance Index ranked the UAE first globally with a score of 14.26, indicating it attracted more than 14 times the foreign direct investment projects expected given its economy’s size.[[2]](https://www.fdiintelligence.com/content/507fb7c4-1e2f-470f-95cb-128a6a1a9acb) The country drew $33.2 billion in greenfield FDI during 2025, a 78 percent rise from the prior year, with India and the United States among the leading sources. Outbound investments have grown in parallel, including AD Ports Group’s commitment of BRL4.2 billion to expand operations at Brazil’s Port of Santos.
DMCC Executive Chairman Ahmed Bin Sulayem told participants at the BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi on September 11 that long-term planning in logistics, storage and energy matters more than short-term oil price movements amid current geopolitical tensions. The forum, held under India’s 2026 BRICS chairship, focused on resilient supply chains, digital cooperation and inclusive growth across member and partner states. UAE representatives also engaged in parallel finance ministers’ meetings, backing deeper coordination and the New Development Bank’s strategy through 2031.
Gulf News reported that the UAE’s involvement has extended to new BRICS frameworks on agriculture, smart grids, climate-resilient infrastructure and traditional medicine. These initiatives build on the country’s established role in facilitating trade and investment flows among emerging markets. The combined efforts illustrate how the UAE’s strengths contribute measurable value to the bloc, which now represents roughly two-fifths of global output.
