The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become a major exporting nation, leveraging its strategic location, business-friendly environment, and infrastructure to ship products around the globe. As the UAE continues diversifying its economy for sustainable long-term growth, what products present the best export opportunities in 2024 and beyond?
Overview of Top Export Categories
The UAE exported $358.8 billion USD worth of products in 2021. Some major categories included:
- Oil and petroleum: As the world economy recovers from COVID-19, demand for fossil fuels continues rising. Crude oil, petroleum gas, refined fuels, and petrochemicals will remain essential exports.
- Gold and diamonds: The UAE imports gold for refinement and exports pure gold bars and jewelry to India, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia. The country is also a diamond trading hub between Africa and Asia.
- Aluminum and metals: Using its energy resources, the UAE smelts aluminum and crafts steel, copper, and other metals for export at its manufacturing centers.
- Machinery and technology: With excellent port infrastructure, the UAE re-exports all types of machinery and technology products from Asia to Europe and Africa.
Now let’s countdown the top 20 lucrative export products the UAE offers in 2024!
#20 Perfumes
- Export Share: 0.8%
- Export Value: $3 billion
- Key Markets: India, Saudi Arabia
The UAE has become the fragrance capital of the Middle East. French and Italian perfume brands manufacture their latest scents in the UAE to sell duty-free to travelers. The Dubai Duty-Free shop in the international airport also ships popular perfumes worldwide, especially to India and Saudi Arabia.
#19 Medical Instruments
- Export Share: 0.9%
- Export Value: $3.5 billion
- Key Markets: Africa, India, Iraq
The UAE is expanding its medical device production from masks and PPE during the pandemic into high-tech equipment like imaging machinery and implantable devices. It ships these devices to Africa, India, and the Middle East.
#18 Telecommunications Equipment
- Export Share: 1.0%
- Export Value: $4 billion
- Key Markets: Saudi Arabia, India, Africa
Chinese tech manufacturers like Huawei and ZTE have production facilities in the UAE to make smartphones, 5G gear, fiber optic equipment and other devices to ship across the Gulf region and Africa.
#17 Organic Chemicals
- Export Share: 1.2%
- Export Value: $5 billion
- Key Markets: India, Turkey, Egypt
Leveraging its oil and gas infrastructure, the UAE produces industrial chemicals, solvents, fertilizers and other key organic compounds in demand across the emerging world, especially in India, Turkey and Egypt.
#16 Ceramic Products
- Export Share: 1.3%
- Export Value: $5.5 billion
- Key Markets: Saudi Arabia, India, Iraq
The UAE has become a specialist in architectural ceramics for floors, walls, and decoration. It ships these ceramic products worldwide, focused on real estate development in Saudi Arabia and India.
#15 Aircraft Parts
- Export Share: 1.5%
- Export Value: $6 billion
- Key Markets: Turkey, EU, Asia
With Emirates, Etihad, and other Arab airlines based in the UAE, the country has developed an ecosystem of aircraft part manufacturers. Key products include engine components, cabin equipment, fasteners, wires, avionics and more, shipping to airlines globally.
#14 Primary Aluminum
- Export Share: 1.7%
- Export Value: $7 billion
- Key Markets: EU, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China
Leveraging cheap natural gas to smelt aluminum, the UAE has become the 5th largest aluminum producer worldwide. It exports primary aluminum used to manufacture cars, planes, electronics, machinery, and construction systems around the world.
#13 Jewelry
- Export Share: 2.5%
- Export Value: $10 billion
- Key Markets: Switzerland, Hong Kong, India, UK, US
Dubai has emerged as the leading gold jewelry producer, fabricating intricate designs with gold imported from Africa and diamonds from India. Much UAE jewelry is re-exported via Switzerland and Hong Kong to key luxury markets.
#12 Cars and Automotive Products
- Export Share: 2.6%
- Export Value: $11 billion
- Key Markets: Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Africa
The UAE has become an automotive manufacturing hub for the Middle East. It ships finishes sedans and SUVs abroad, especially catering to the large Iraqi and Saudi markets. Auto parts like batteries, radiators, lights, wire harnesses are also exported worldwide.
#11 Refined Petroleum Oil
- Export Share: 3.6%
- Export Value: $15 billion
- Key Markets: Africa, Singapore, Japan
The UAE hosts cutting-edge oil refineries transforming crude petroleum into value-added products like gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel — meeting rising energy demand across Africa and Asia.
#10 Copper Products
- Export Share: 4.1%
- Export Value: $17 billion
- Key Markets: China, EU, India, Turkey
Using imported copper cathodes, UAE manufacturers extrude pipes, draw wires, and stamp contacts to export globally. The real estate booms across the emerging markets spur copper demand for construction electrical systems and air conditioning.
#9 Refrigerators and Air Conditioners
- Export Share: 4.4%
- Export Value: $19 billion
- Key Markets: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Africa
Leveraging the searing desert climate, UAE firms like ETA Cooling specialize in super-efficient and durable air conditioners and refrigerators, shipping units across the Gulf and Africa.
#8 Diamonds
- Export Share: 4.5%
- Export Value: $19 billion
- Key Markets: India, Israel, Belgium
Dubai has become the leading diamond hub, importing raw stones from Africa for polishing and sorting — with the best gems re-exported to major cutting centers in India and Israel or shipped to Belgium and other diamond trading centers.
#7 Machinery including Computers
- Export Share: 5.1%
- Export Value: $22 billion
- Key Markets: Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Africa
As a high-tech manufacturing hub, the UAE exports all types of electrical gear, components, computers, 3D printers and more to meet industrialization and development across emerging economies.
#6 Gold
- Export Share: 9.8%
- Export Value: $42 billion
- Key Markets: Switzerland, India, Hong Kong
The UAE imports gold bars and dust to produce jewelry and refine 24k gold. Most gold is re-exported via Swiss banks or Indian wholesalers to the global retail markets in North America, Europe and East Asia.
#5 Aluminum Products
- Export Share: 10.2%
- Export Value: $44 billion
- Key Markets: EU, Japan, China, US
With a world-class aluminum industry, the UAE manufactures everything from foil to aircraft parts to car wheels — meeting skyrocketing demand everywhere as global aluminum consumption grows steadily year after year.
#4 Crude Petroleum Oil
- Export Share: 10.5%
- Export Value: $46 billion
- Key Markets: Japan, India, South Korea, Thailand
Despite efforts to diversify its economy, crude oil remains the lifeblood of UAE’s export portfolio – with key Asian importers like Japan, India, South Korea and Thailand running refineries fed by Emirati oil.
#3 Pearls and Gems
- Export Share: 13.4%
- Export Value: $58 billion
- Key Markets: Switzerland, Hong Kong, India, Israel
Dubai has become the world’s leading pearl and gem trading hub – importing emeralds, rubies, sapphires and more from Africa and South Asia. The UAE then re-exports the sorted gems globally via trading centers in Hong Kong and Switzerland.
#2 Non-Crude Petroleum Oils
- Export Share: 16.3%
- Export Value: $71 billion
- Key Markets: Saudi Arabia, Japan, Netherlands, Singapore
This category includes all petrochemicals, solvents, lubricants and byproducts that the UAE derives from crude oil and natural gas. Global demand surges for these essential organic chemicals used across all industries.
#1 Gold Jewelry
- Export Share: 17.9%
- Export Value: $78 billion
- Key Markets: Switzerland, Hong Kong, UK, India, US
Dubai has rocketed to become the #1 gold jewelry exporter globally – importing pure gold to manufacture intricately designed jewelry exported via Swiss banks and Hong Kong wholesalers to luxury retailers in Europe, Americas and South Asia.
Gold jewelry epitomizes the UAE’s broader economic strategy – importing raw materials or products to substantially increase their value through advanced logistics, manufacturing, and re-export expertise.
Check below table for quick summary:
| Sr | Product Name | Total Export Share % | Total Export Value | Main Export Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gold Jewelry | 17.9% | $78 billion | Switzerland, Hong Kong, UK, India, US |
| 2 | Non-Crude Petroleum Oils | 16.3% | $71 billion | Saudi Arabia, Japan, Netherlands, Singapore |
| 3 | Pearls and Gems | 13.4% | $58 billion | Switzerland, Hong Kong, India, Israel |
| 4 | Crude Petroleum Oil | 10.5% | $46 billion | Japan, India, South Korea, Thailand |
| 5 | Aluminum Products | 10.2% | $44 billion | EU, Japan, China, US |
| 6 | Gold | 9.8% | $42 billion | Switzerland, India, Hong Kong |
| 7 | Machinery including Computers | 5.1% | $22 billion | Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Africa |
| 8 | Diamonds | 4.5% | $19 billion | India, Israel, Belgium |
| 9 | Refrigerators and Air Conditioners | 4.4% | $19 billion | Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Africa |
| 10 | Copper Products | 4.1% | $17 billion | China, EU, India, Turkey |
| 11 | Refined Petroleum Oil | 3.6% | $15 billion | Africa, Singapore, Japan |
| 12 | Cars and Automotive Products | 2.6% | $11 billion | Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Africa |
| 13 | Jewelry | 2.5% | $10 billion | Switzerland, Hong Kong, India, UK, US |
| 14 | Primary Aluminum | 1.7% | $7 billion | EU, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China |
| 15 | Aircraft Parts | 1.5% | $6 billion | Turkey, EU, Asia |
| 16 | Ceramic Products | 1.3% | $5.5 billion | Saudi Arabia, India, Iraq |
| 17 | Organic Chemicals | 1.2% | $5 billion | India, Turkey, Egypt |
| 18 | Telecommunications Equipment | 1.0% | $4 billion | Saudi Arabia, India, Africa |
| 19 | Medical Instruments | 0.9% | $3.5 billion | Africa, India, Iraq |
| 20 | Perfumes | 0.8% | $3 billion | India, Saudi Arabia |
Conclusion
I hope this top 20 export countdown gives you insight into the UAE’s key export products and markets in 2024. The country leverages its geographic centrality between Europe, Africa and Asia; stable business climate; and infrastructure to continually grow as a global trading epicenter shipping out everything from gold and oil to diamonds and electronics across the world.
The UAE’s economic diversification also leads it to export an ever wider range of manufactured goods, from leading-edge air conditioners suitable for scorching climates to automotive components feeding assembly plants across the Middle East.
With billions of dollars in annual exports and steady year-on-year increases across most categories, products “Made in UAE” will become even more globally pervasive in the years ahead!
