A landmark trade strategy to attract 1,000 global firms, boost non-oil exports and deploy AI to power the UAE’s rise as a world-leading commerce hub…reports Asian Lite News
The United Arab Emirates has taken another decisive step to reinforce its status as one of the world’s most dynamic trading nations with the launch of the UAE Global Centre of Trade programme, a sweeping new strategy designed to accelerate foreign trade growth, attract the world’s leading trading companies and strengthen the country’s position as a gateway for global commerce.
The initiative was unveiled in Dubai in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, joined by senior leaders including His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, His Highness Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said the new programme was crafted to cement the UAE’s standing in international commerce by drawing the world’s top 1,000 global trading companies to the country and offering a digital gateway that links thousands of UAE exporters with international markets. He noted that bolstering the presence of Emirati products across continents and opening new export destinations would be central to the next phase of the country’s economic journey, reinforcing its role as a pivotal hub on global trade routes.
The UAE Global Centre of Trade brings together a series of bold initiatives that will expand the country’s successful foreign trade agenda. At its core, the programme seeks to increase non-oil exports, attract global manufacturers and trading firms, support exporters with advanced tools and data, and identify high-growth markets through technology, particularly artificial intelligence. The programme’s launch is supported by a coalition of ministries, chambers, port operators and economic departments, reflecting a whole-of-government approach to strengthening the country’s commercial influence on the world stage.
Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, said the programme underscores the leadership’s belief in trade as a driver of economic growth, diversification and innovation. He stressed that the UAE’s foreign trade network, strengthened by Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements across Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America, offers unprecedented opportunities for businesses to expand.
Al Zeyoudi said the new initiatives would widen the UAE’s share of global commerce by simplifying export procedures, deploying AI to identify promising markets, showcasing the capabilities of Emirati companies worldwide and enabling entrepreneurs to better utilise the country’s trade architecture. As global trade continues to rebalance amid shifting geopolitical and economic conditions, he said the UAE is prepared to demonstrate its ability to power the next era of prosperity.
The programme’s launch comes as the UAE records historic levels of non-oil trade. In the first nine months of 2025, non-oil trade reached AED 2.67 trillion, representing year-on-year growth of 24.6 per cent. Non-oil exports reached AED 579.4 billion during the same period, rising more than 42 per cent from 2024. Re-exports grew to AED 597.7 billion, a 15 per cent increase, while imports reached AED 1.5 trillion, up 22.8 per cent. These figures highlight the scale at which the UAE is already operating – and the ambition to further expand its global economic footprint.
The programme consists of eight initiatives aimed at strengthening the entire trade ecosystem. The first seeks to attract 1,000 major global trading companies to set up headquarters in the UAE by analysing sectors with high global demand, particularly in markets linked through CEPA agreements. The second focuses on the creation of the UAE Export Portal, an integrated digital platform designed to connect exporters to buyers worldwide, backed by AI tools that identify rising demand and simplify customs processes.
The Ready2Trade initiative will strengthen export capabilities through advanced training in market selection, international sales, compliance and export documentation, aiming to equip more than 10,000 companies with the knowledge needed to scale globally. UAE Trade Days will organise promotional missions abroad, enabling Emirati companies to build long-term partnerships with international importers, while the UAE International Trade Expo will bring together hundreds of companies from 50 countries to showcase products, host governments and facilitate business deals.
Other initiatives include the UAE Traders of the Future Programme, which aims to prepare a new generation of Emirati traders with the skills and confidence to compete globally, and the Young Traders Programme, which will introduce high-school and university students to the fundamentals of global trade and entrepreneurship.
The eighth initiative centres on using artificial intelligence to optimise foreign trade. This includes developing 15 intelligent systems capable of forecasting global trends, enhancing supply-chain efficiency, predicting disruptions and strengthening risk-management systems. By analysing millions of data points across ports, routes and customs channels, the UAE aims to create a more agile and adaptive trade environment.
