UAE Strengthens Global Trade and Investment Role with BRICS Membership

The UAE's full membership in the BRICS economic bloc, effective from January 2024, is set to significantly enhance its global trade and investment standing. This strategic alignment supports the nation's ongoing efforts to diversify its economy and strengthen its international partnerships.

Economic Impact and Growth

BRICS member countries collectively represent approximately 49.5 percent of the world's population, nearly 40 percent of global GDP, and 26 percent of global trade, underscoring the bloc's substantial economic influence. The UAE's inclusion adds an economy renowned as a global hub for trade, investment, and logistics. This membership is expected to foster new trade corridors, expand investment and business channels, and deepen cooperation with emerging and developing economies worldwide.

Non-oil foreign trade between the UAE and BRICS nations experienced robust growth, exceeding $312 billion in 2025, a 28.5 percent increase from $243 billion in 2024. BRICS countries now account for around 31 percent of the UAE's total non-oil foreign trade, comprising 34 percent of imports, 23 percent of non-oil exports, and 28 percent of re-exports.

Key Trading Partnerships

China and India stand out as the UAE's primary trading partners within BRICS. Non-oil trade with China reached $111.5 billion in 2025, marking a 24.5 percent increase and surpassing $100 billion for the first time. Trade with India, bolstered by the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), hit Dh107.5 billion in the first half of 2026. The UAE has also seen substantial growth in non-oil trade with Russia, reaching $20.4 billion in 2025, a 77.7 percent increase from 2024, facilitated by the Trade in Services and Investment Agreement and the CEPA with the Eurasian Economic Union. Bilateral trade with Brazil has exceeded $5.4 billion, with growing cooperation in investment and infrastructure.

Logistics and Investment Hub

The UAE's BRICS membership reinforces its role as a critical logistics hub, using its strategic geographical location and advanced infrastructure. It facilitates the development of multimodal corridors that reduce transit times and streamline trade flows between BRICS countries and global markets. An example is the new routes linking Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia, which cut cargo transit time via the Port of Karachi to Uzbekistan to approximately 10 days.

The membership also promises to attract increased foreign direct investment into the UAE from BRICS countries, particularly in sectors such as mining, transport, financial services, information technology, clean energy, and automotive industries. These align with the UAE's economic diversification and innovation priorities. Conversely, BRICS members benefit from the UAE's position as a gateway connecting markets and its investments in infrastructure, food security, clean energy, and transport across the bloc.