Emirates News Agency reported that Al Zeyoudi presented the 2025 trade data at the BRICS Trade Ministers Meeting in Jaipur in August, where the UAE emphasised its role in promoting rules-based trade within the expanded group. The increase from $243 billion in 2024 came as BRICS nations accounted for 31 percent of the UAE’s total non-oil foreign trade, supplying 34 percent of imports, receiving 23 percent of non-oil exports and handling 28 percent of re-exports. The bloc now comprises 10 members, including the UAE itself along with Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Egypt and Iran, representing roughly 40 percent of the global population and 25 percent of world GDP according to bloc assessments.
Ministry of Foreign Trade figures show non-oil trade with China, the UAE’s top BRICS partner, reached $111.5 billion in 2025, a 24.5 percent rise that pushed the bilateral total above $100 billion for the first time. Bilateral trade with India stood at $76.2 billion, up 17.3 percent, supported by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in force since 2022. Trade with Russia climbed 77.7 percent to $20.4 billion while exchanges with Brazil exceeded $5.4 billion, with cooperation expanding in logistics, infrastructure and investment channels.
Al Zeyoudi stated that at a time of heightened uncertainty in global trade, cooperation between emerging markets and developing economies is more important than ever. He noted that the UAE views BRICS as an important platform for strengthening economic cooperation and supporting an open and predictable trading environment. Al Zeyoudi described the growth as reflecting promising prospects for strengthening comprehensive economic partnerships.
The UAE has concluded 38 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements since launching the programme in September 2021, with 18 currently in force including those with BRICS members India and Indonesia, the ministry has said. These pacts form a central element of the strategy to lift total non-oil foreign trade to $1.1 trillion by 2031. Overall non-oil foreign trade climbed more than 26 percent in 2025 to AED 3.8 trillion while non-oil exports rose more than 45 percent, according to official statistics.
During the first half of 2026, non-oil foreign trade reached a record AED 1.94 trillion with non-oil exports climbing to AED 453 billion, the ministry reported. Al Zeyoudi has linked this performance to the success of trade diversification efforts and partnerships across emerging markets. The UAE’s participation in the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi this week will build on the ministerial discussions held in Jaipur to advance practical cooperation in sectors ranging from technology and renewable energy to food security and logistics.
