Non-oil trade between Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia amounted to Dhs493.8bn over last decade

The value of non-oil trade in goods between Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia totalled Dhs493.8bn over the past 10 years, according to figures released by Abu Dhabi Customs.

In 2019, trade between Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia was recorded at Dhs55.3bn, an 83.9 per cent growth over 2010, when the total trade volume between the two sides stood at Dhs30.05bn.

The value of Abu Dhabi’s non-oil exports to Saudi Arabia rose to Dhs196.17bn over the decade, while re-exports stood at Dhs180.09bn, and imports to Dhs117.5bn.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been #AbuDhabi’s primary trading partner in non-oil sectors over the past 10 years with total trade value reaching AED 493.8bn. The value reflects the robust strategic partnership & aligned objectives, supported by both leaderships. pic.twitter.com/QBher2nDqS

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@admediaoffice) September 23, 2020

Last year, the emirate’s exports to Saudi Arabia grew 156.7 per cent to Dhs25.76bn from Dhs10.03bn in 2010.

Re-exports increased 67.9 per cent to Dhs17.35bn during the same reference period, with the kingdom remaining the emirate’s top trading partner over the decade.

Revealing a breakdown of some of the key goods traded between Abu Dhabi and Saudi, the figures indicate Dhs11bn in minerals and related manufacturing, Dhs7.6bn in audiovisual equipment, Dhs 5.95bn in chemicals, Dhs7.3bn in jewelry and precious stones and commodities across over 20 commercial sectors.

In the first five months of 2020, Abu Dhabi’s non-oil foreign trade reached Dhs80.23bn, with Saudi Arabia being the emirate’s top trading partner, accounting for Dhs17.91bn worth of trade.

Read: Abu Dhabi records Dhs80.23bn non-oil foreign trade in first five months of 2020

Rashid bin Lahij Al Mansouri, director general of the General Administration for Customs in Abu Dhabi, told official news agency WAM that Saudi Arabia is a key strategic partner of the UAE “thanks to the common views and robust cooperation ties maintained by the leadership of the two nations and their continual exchange of expertise and transfer of knowledge, which, he said, has reflected in streamlining traffic between their ports.”

The figures were revealed on Wednesday, September 23, the occasion of the 90th Saudi National Day and one which the UAE too was observing under the theme “Together Forever”.

Non-oil trade between Abu Dhabi’s neighbouring emirate of Dubai and Saudi Arabia amounted to Dhs500bn from 2010-2020, which makes the kingdom Dubai’s biggest Arab trade partner and fifth globally.

Read: Non-oil trade between Dubai and Saudi Arabia amounted to Dhs500bn over last decade

Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, director general of Dubai Customs said that that the value of Dubai external trade with Saudi in the first half of 2020 reached Dh24bn, including Dh4bn of imports, Dh2.8bn of exports and Dh17.3bn of re-exports.