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Strategic Lens

China and United Arab Emirates

First country

Second country

In 2025, China sold USD 72.9 billion of goods to United Arab Emirates and bought USD 35.0 billion from it. Both are members of BRICS. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 84 percent in 2023, and 85 percent on average over 2019 to 2023. In 2025, China sold USD 588 million of mineral fuels and oils to United Arab Emirates and bought USD 28.6 billion from it.

Benefits

  • BothTwo-way trade in goods grew 121 percent, from USD 48.7 billion in 2019 to USD 107.9 billion in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in mineral fuels and oils grew 158 percent, from USD 11.3 billion in 2019 to USD 29.2 billion in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in critical minerals and metals grew about 4.8 times, from USD 115 million in 2019 to USD 556 million in 2025.

Constraints

  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, United Arab Emirates sold USD 28.6 billion of mineral fuels and oils, against USD 588 million the other way.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, United Arab Emirates sold USD 550 million of critical minerals and metals, against USD 5.7 million the other way.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, China sold USD 74.9 million of fertilisers, and United Arab Emirates sold almost none.

Sources: UN Comtrade (public preview API), annual goods trade, HS classification (retrieved 26 September 2026); Wikidata, statements on membership (property P463) (retrieved 26 September 2026); United Nations General Assembly voting data (Voeten, Strezhnev and Bailey), agreement scores (retrieved 25 September 2026)

Last updated on 26 September 2026

At a glance

Goods trade, both ways
USD 107.9 billion
2025, as reported by China
China to United Arab Emirates
USD 72.9 billion
2025, as reported by China
United Arab Emirates to China
USD 35.0 billion
2025, as reported by China

What connects China and United Arab Emirates

Economy

Trade in goodsIn 2025, China sold USD 72.9 billion of goods to United Arab Emirates and bought USD 35.0 billion from it.

Resources

EnergyIn 2025, China sold USD 588 million of mineral fuels and oils to United Arab Emirates and bought USD 28.6 billion from it.Critical mineralsIn 2025, China sold USD 5.7 million of critical minerals and metals to United Arab Emirates and bought USD 550 million from it.Agriculture and foodIn 2025, China sold USD 1.55 billion of agricultural and food products to United Arab Emirates and bought USD 532 million from it.FertiliserIn 2025, China sold USD 74.9 million of fertilisers to United Arab Emirates.

Industry

Supply chains and manufacturingIn 2025, China sold USD 27.4 billion of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel to United Arab Emirates and bought USD 80.2 million from it.TechnologyIn 2025, China sold USD 15.1 billion of electrical and electronic equipment to United Arab Emirates and bought USD 25.5 million from it.Pharma and healthIn 2025, China sold USD 72.6 million of pharmaceutical products to United Arab Emirates.

Diplomacy

Multilateral alignmentBoth are members of BRICS. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 84 percent in 2023, and 85 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.

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