Ahmed bin Saeed praises leadership support as DIEZ drives Dubai’s non-oil trade growth

Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Free Zones Council, affirmed that the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) continues to strengthen its role as a key driver of non-oil trade in the emirate. This came in a comment on a post by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, regarding DIEZ’s performance in 2025. Sheikh Ahmed said in a post on X: “We are honored by Your Highness’s trust and support. Guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, we will continue to build on these achievements to create new opportunities for trade, investment, and economic growth. This achievement reflects the dedication of the DIEZ team and reinforces our commitment to supporting Dubai’s ambitions as a leading global economic hub.” Earlier, Sheikh Hamdan stated: “Today, I reviewed the performance report of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), which includes Dubai Airport Free Zone, Dubai Silicon Oasis, and Dubai CommerCity. Last year, DIEZ recorded its highest performance in its history, with non-oil trade reaching AED 491 billion — an exceptional growth of 46% compared to 2024 — raising its contribution to Dubai’s non-oil trade to 16%. “The vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum are the foundation of these achievements across various vital sectors in Dubai. We commend the efforts of the DIEZ team, led by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, and are confident in their ability to sustain growth and further strengthen Dubai’s position as a global trade hub.” DIEZ increased its contribution to Dubai’s non-oil trade to nearly 16% in 2025, as the emirate’s total foreign trade exceeded AED 3 trillion. The total trade volume rose by 50% to reach 667,800 tonnes in 2025, confirming that the growth reflects a real expansion in trade activity, rather than price increases, despite global inflation challenges. The rise in trade volume, alongside the expansion of high-value technology sectors, highlights the success of DIEZ’s strategy in diversifying partners, boosting re-exports, and strengthening supply chains. The shift in its partner landscape — particularly the surge in trade with Saudi Arabia — also opens new horizons for sustainable regional integration. These results underline DIEZ’s ability to effectively manage trade dynamics in a changing global environment, reinforcing its position as a major contributor to Dubai’s non-oil trade ecosystem.