The Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) reported that commercial activity across its three designated zones totaled Dh246 billion during the first six months of 2026. Khaleej Times noted this figure represents a 17 per cent year-on-year increase and marks the sixth straight half-year period where the authority set new records. Growth was primarily driven by re-exports, which climbed 22 per cent to roughly Dh108.8 billion, and imports, which rose 14 per cent to Dh134.8 billion. Direct exports were valued at approximately Dh2.4 billion. Despite the value increase, physical trade volumes dropped to about 270,000 tonnes from 298,000 tonnes in the same period of 2025.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who serves as Dubai’s Crown Prince and head of the Executive Council, attributed the performance to the robustness of the city’s logistics network. He argued that global competition now hinges on supply chain resilience rather than volume alone. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, the authority’s chairman, stated that the integrated infrastructure allowed the ecosystem to adapt quickly to shifting global trade patterns. Dr Mohammed Al Zarooni, the executive chairman, emphasized that the results confirmed stakeholder confidence in the reliability of the integrated model.
The authority’s proportion of Dubai’s non-oil commerce expanded to roughly 16 per cent, up from 15.4 per cent in the prior year. Machinery and electrical equipment dominated the portfolio, representing about 66 per cent of total transactions. Precious stones and metals accounted for approximately 30 per cent, an 18 per cent rise compared to the previous first half. Together, these two sectors comprised nearly 96 per cent of the authority’s overall trade. Khaleej Times reported that China remained the top partner, accounting for Dh69.8 billion, or 28.4 per cent, of the total. Saudi Arabia, India, and Vietnam followed as the next largest partners, with trade values of Dh26.5 billion, Dh17.6 billion, and Dh13.2 billion respectively.