Dubai’s non-oil trade jumps 24%

Despite the global economic recession, Dubai non-oil trade, spanning imports, exports and re-exports, saw a significant surge of 24 per cent in the first half of 2011, which is higher than its value before the downturn.

Providing for promising investment opportunities, the emirate’s non-oil trade hit Dh345 billion in the period from January 1 to June 30 as compared to Dh279 billion in the first half of 2010, according to a top customs official here. Ahmed Butti, the executive chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone, said the boom featured a 21 per cent increase in imports which hit Dh214 billion against Dh177 billion over the same period in 2010.

“Jumping to 37per cent , the exports stood at Dh45 billion against Dh33 billion in first-half of 2010, apart from re-exportation activities which grew to 25 per cent or Dh87 billion as opposed to Dh69 billion in the first six months last year.”

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