DAFZ Records 36% Year-on-Year Increase in Non-Oil Trade in 2021
Non-oil trade of Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZ), part of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), rose by more than 36% year-on-year in 2021, reinforcing Dubai’s strength as a global hub for trade and commerce.
Figures shared by the DAFZ in cooperation with Dubai Customs showed that the free zone’s non-oil trade exceeded $44 billion last year compared with $32 billion the year before.
These results reflect DAFZ’s prominent role in realising the strategic vision of His Highness Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to promote the national economy and the investment environment of Dubai.
The exceptional financial results stem from DAFZ’s strategic initiatives and incentives to support and facilitate its community of multinational and small-to-medium businesses, enabling an investment environment and ensuring seamless trade activity.
Thanks to its strategic location, business-friendly policies, and robust sea and air infrastructure that connects with 400 international cities, Dubai is the proverbial heart of an investment ecosystem worth trillions of dollars.
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The commercial capital of the region, Dubai offers businesses unparalleled access to some of the world’s largest emerging and established markets in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, India, Asia and beyond.
DAFZ contributed 10.7% to Dubai’s non-oil trade in 2021, exceeding expectations across all sectors. The free zone also recorded a trade surplus of $2.5 billion.
This growth was fuelled by the massive 48% year-on-year increase in imports, exceeding even the record levels achieved in 2019 and resulting in a quadrupling of exports, reaching AED1.4 billion in 2021.
Strategic contribution
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of DIEZ, said: “We are proud of these exceptional results that highlight the strategic contribution of DAFZ under the umbrella of DIEZ. These results have been pivotal in promoting economic recovery in Dubai and the UAE.
"The free zone has fully recovered from the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, with trade returning to pre-2020 levels. This has reinforced its mission to enhance its strategic goals and contribute to strengthening Dubai’s position as a global trade hub.”
"These unprecedented results align with the national economic performance, which recorded qualitative leaps recently following the strong growth of Dubai’s non-oil trade.
This has become a new base for further progress this year and in the future. Dubai has adopted various initiatives and undertaken development programmes in its commercial sectors, including a digital services system, developing its logistics infrastructure, and attracting national and international competencies."
