The UAE sold more goods abroad than France in 2025
Merchandise exports, US dollars, billions, current prices, 2013–2025. Re-exports included.
Goods the UAE exported in 2025, up from $300 billion in 2015.
France's goods exports in 2025: the first year since the World Bank series begins in 1970 that the UAE came out ahead.
UAE goods exports in 2025 versus 2015, a low year after the oil-price crash, as the Gulf becomes a trade hub between Asia, Africa and Europe.
the numbers
| Year | United Arab Emirates (bn) | France (bn) | United Kingdom (bn) | Japan (bn) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 374.2 | 581.0 | 546.8 | 715.1 |
| 2014 | 343.0 | 581.4 | 510.8 | 690.2 |
| 2015 | 300.5 | 506.3 | 465.9 | 624.9 |
| 2016 | 295.0 | 501.2 | 410.9 | 645.1 |
| 2017 | 313.6 | 535.3 | 441.0 | 698.3 |
| 2018 | 388.0 | 582.2 | 486.4 | 738.1 |
| 2019 | 389.4 | 571.0 | 460.0 | 705.6 |
| 2020 | 335.3 | 488.6 | 399.5 | 641.3 |
| 2021 | 425.2 | 585.0 | 472.1 | 756.0 |
| 2022 | 515.6 | 620.5 | 546.2 | 746.8 |
| 2023 | 570.2 | 651.1 | 525.0 | 717.3 |
| 2024 | 605.6 | 640.5 | 524.3 | 707.0 |
| 2025 | 706.7 | 683.1 | 555.8 | 738.3 |
source notes & method
All values read from the World Bank API (TX.VAL.MRCH.CD.WT, WDI last updated 8 Oct 2026) on 3 Nov 2026. The World Bank takes these figures from the World Trade Organization; merchandise exports are goods only (no services), valued f.o.b. in current US dollars, and include re-exports, which make up a large part of the UAE's trade, as well as oil and gas. UAE 2025: $706.671bn; France 2025: $683.095bn; UAE 2024: $605.580bn vs France $640.518bn. In every year of the series (1970–2024) the UAE was below France, so 2025 is the first year ahead. UAE 2015: $300.477bn; growth 2015–2025 = 2.35× (derived). The UAE passed the United Kingdom in 2023 ($570.2bn vs $525.0bn). 2025 values as published on 3 Nov 2026; latest-year WTO figures may be revised. 2015 was a low year after the 2014–15 oil-price fall; from 2013 ($374.2bn) the rise is 1.89×. Values rounded to $0.1bn on the chart. Takeaway 3's second clause is an interpretation.
Published 3 Nov 2026
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