Merchandise imports in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Merchandise imports was 618.88 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports in United Arab Emirates, 1960–2025
Source: World Trade Organization (WTO). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise imports in United Arab Emirates is 618.88 billion current US$, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 13.7% on the previous year and up 134.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports in United Arab Emirates peaked at 618.88 billion current US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 160.00 million current US$, in 1960.
That places United Arab Emirates 13th out of 206 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 160.00 million current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 170.00 million current US$ | +6.2% |
| 1962 | 170.00 million current US$ | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 180.00 million current US$ | +5.9% |
| 1964 | 205.00 million current US$ | +13.9% |
| 1965 | 225.00 million current US$ | +9.8% |
| 1966 | 237.00 million current US$ | +5.3% |
| 1967 | 240.00 million current US$ | +1.3% |
| 1968 | 280.00 million current US$ | +16.7% |
| 1969 | 307.00 million current US$ | +9.6% |
| 1970 | 267.00 million current US$ | -13.0% |
| 1971 | 309.00 million current US$ | +15.7% |
| 1972 | 482.00 million current US$ | +56.0% |
| 1973 | 821.00 million current US$ | +70.3% |
| 1974 | 1.71 billion current US$ | +107.7% |
| 1975 | 2.69 billion current US$ | +57.5% |
| 1976 | 3.34 billion current US$ | +24.3% |
| 1977 | 5.05 billion current US$ | +51.5% |
| 1978 | 5.37 billion current US$ | +6.3% |
| 1979 | 6.97 billion current US$ | +29.7% |
| 1980 | 8.75 billion current US$ | +25.6% |
| 1981 | 9.65 billion current US$ | +10.3% |
| 1982 | 9.44 billion current US$ | -2.1% |
| 1983 | 8.29 billion current US$ | -12.1% |
| 1984 | 6.94 billion current US$ | -16.4% |
| 1985 | 6.55 billion current US$ | -5.6% |
| 1986 | 6.42 billion current US$ | -1.9% |
| 1987 | 7.23 billion current US$ | +12.5% |
| 1988 | 8.52 billion current US$ | +17.9% |
| 1989 | 10.01 billion current US$ | +17.5% |
| 1990 | 11.20 billion current US$ | +11.9% |
| 1991 | 13.75 billion current US$ | +22.7% |
| 1992 | 17.41 billion current US$ | +26.7% |
| 1993 | 20.99 billion current US$ | +20.6% |
| 1994 | 22.77 billion current US$ | +8.5% |
| 1995 | 23.78 billion current US$ | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 30.56 billion current US$ | +28.5% |
| 1997 | 34.11 billion current US$ | +11.6% |
| 1998 | 32.59 billion current US$ | -4.5% |
| 1999 | 31.72 billion current US$ | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 35.01 billion current US$ | +10.4% |
| 2001 | 37.29 billion current US$ | +6.5% |
| 2002 | 42.65 billion current US$ | +14.4% |
| 2003 | 52.07 billion current US$ | +22.1% |
| 2004 | 72.08 billion current US$ | +38.4% |
| 2005 | 84.65 billion current US$ | +17.4% |
| 2006 | 100.06 billion current US$ | +18.2% |
| 2007 | 150.12 billion current US$ | +50.0% |
| 2008 | 200.33 billion current US$ | +33.4% |
| 2009 | 170.12 billion current US$ | -15.1% |
| 2010 | 187.00 billion current US$ | +9.9% |
| 2011 | 229.93 billion current US$ | +23.0% |
| 2012 | 256.53 billion current US$ | +11.6% |
| 2013 | 270.58 billion current US$ | +5.5% |
| 2014 | 276.02 billion current US$ | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 263.42 billion current US$ | -4.6% |
| 2016 | 266.58 billion current US$ | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 257.73 billion current US$ | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 244.69 billion current US$ | -5.1% |
| 2019 | 288.45 billion current US$ | +17.9% |
| 2020 | 246.96 billion current US$ | -14.4% |
| 2021 | 347.53 billion current US$ | +40.7% |
| 2022 | 420.49 billion current US$ | +21.0% |
| 2023 | 470.54 billion current US$ | +11.9% |
| 2024 | 544.10 billion current US$ | +15.6% |
| 2025 | 618.88 billion current US$ | +13.7% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 618.88 billion current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 44.50 billion current US$, 13.9× the median. (77 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 618.88 billion current US$ is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 39.57 billion current US$, 15.6× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports in United Arab Emirates changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | +107.7% | 821.00 million current US$ | 1.71 billion current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 217.40 million current US$ | 160.00 million current US$ | 307.00 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.70 billion current US$ | 267.00 million current US$ | 6.97 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.18 billion current US$ | 6.42 billion current US$ | 10.01 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 23.89 billion current US$ | 11.20 billion current US$ | 34.11 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 94.44 billion current US$ | 35.01 billion current US$ | 200.33 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 254.09 billion current US$ | 187.00 billion current US$ | 288.45 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 441.42 billion current US$ | 246.96 billion current US$ | 618.88 billion current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More private sector data for United Arab Emirates
- Merchandise trade 208.2% (2024)
- Food imports 5.0% (2023)
- Manufactures imports 54.9% (2023)
- Food exports 2.9% (2023)
- Manufactures exports 8.8% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 706.67 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 61,380 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 1.1 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 16.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 53,754 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports in United Arab Emirates?
- Merchandise imports in United Arab Emirates was 618.88 billion current US$ in 2025, according to World Trade Organization (WTO).
- What is the highest merchandise imports recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 618.88 billion current US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 160.00 million current US$ in 1960.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for merchandise imports?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 13th out of 206 countries with data for 2025.
- Is merchandise imports rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 134.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from World Trade Organization (WTO), published as part of Merchandise imports (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise imports includes goods whose economic ownership is changed from a non-resident to a resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.