Dubai’s non-oil trade in 2018 reached Dh1.3 trillion, roughly the same as in 2017, according to a report from WAM on Sunday, despite “challenges facing global trade growth resulting from trade tensions between major economic powers and a global growth slowdown that has led to currency rate volatility in developing countries.”
According to Dubai Customs, trade through free zones in 2018 grew by 23 per cent to Dh532 billion. Direct trade touched Dh757 billion while customs warehouse trade weighed in at Dh10.4 billion. Re-exports grew 12 per cent to Dh402 billion while imports totalled Dh770 billion and exports Dh127 billion. Next on the list was gold with Dh146 billion worth of trade, followed by jewellery at Dh106 billion, diamonds at Dh94 billion.