DIEZ economic zones record AED 246 billion trade in first half of 2026
By Catherine Smith GST 2 min read
Trade through the three economic zones run by the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) reached AED 246 billion in the first half of 2026, an increase of 17% on the same period of 2025, according to figures released by the Government of Dubai Media Office on 18 October 2026.
The authority said it was DIEZ’s sixth consecutive year of record first-half trade. Its three zones are Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZ), Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) and Dubai CommerCity.
Where the AED 246 billion came from
| First half of 2026 | Value | Change on first half of 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Imports | AED 134.8 billion | Up 14% |
| Re-exports | About AED 108.8 billion | Up 22% |
| Direct exports | About AED 2.4 billion | Not stated |
| Total trade | AED 246 billion | Up 17% |
Values rose while physical volumes fell. Trade volumes reached approximately 270,000 tonnes in the first half of 2026, compared with approximately 298,000 tonnes in the first half of 2025.
Two groups of goods dominated. Machinery, equipment and electrical equipment made up approximately 66% of total trade. Precious stones, precious metals, jewellery and ornaments contributed approximately 30%, an 18% increase on the first half of 2025. Together the two accounted for approximately 96% of DIEZ trade.
Main trading partners
| Partner | Trade, first half of 2026 | Share of DIEZ trade |
|---|---|---|
| China | AED 69.8 billion | 28.4% |
| Saudi Arabia | AED 26.5 billion | 10.8% |
| India | AED 17.6 billion | 7.2% |
| Vietnam | AED 13.2 billion | 5.4% |
DIEZ’s share of Dubai’s non-oil trade rose to approximately 16% in the first half of 2026, from 15.4% in the same period of 2025.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, commended DIEZ for the result. In the same release, His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Executive Chairman of DIEZ, said: “Our focus in the coming phase will be on sustaining economic momentum and building on the strategic results achieved by the Authority.”
How the half-year compares with recent full years
DIEZ said 2025 was its fifth consecutive year of growth. WAM reported on 21 September 2025 that DIEZ trade rose 19% to AED 336 billion in 2024, a 13.7% share of Dubai’s non-oil trade. For 2025, the authority reported total trade of approximately AED 491 billion, up 46%, with its share of Dubai’s non-oil trade rising to 16%.
Occupancy and companies in the zones
Separate first-half figures on the zones themselves were reported by WAM on 17 August 2026. The three zones recorded an occupancy rate of 96% during the first half of 2026. The number of companies operating in them rose 13% compared with the first half of 2025, and their workforce grew 24%.
