Iran exported non-oil products worth $395 million to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the first Iranian calendar month of Farvardin (March 21–April 21), making the UAE Iran’s third-largest non-oil export destination, according to new data from the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA).
On the flip side, the UAE topped the list of Iran’s non-oil import sources, exporting $859 million worth of goods to the country in the same period.
This strong trade performance follows last year’s figures, where Iran exported $7.2 billion in non-oil commodities to the UAE, and imported $21.9 billion worth, making the Gulf nation Tehran’s second-largest trade partner overall.Officials from both sides have emphasized the importance of expanding economic ties.
“The UAE, as Iran’s second biggest trade partner, has great strategic importance for us,” said former Iranian Transport and Urban Development Minister Mehrdad Bazrpash at the third Iran-UAE Joint Economic Committee meeting held in Abu Dhabi in May 2024.Bazrpash highlighted the countries’ location along the International North-South Transit Corridor (INSTC) as a key advantage.
“Access to the markets of the north and south can create an opportunity for the two countries to cooperate,” he noted, while calling for solutions to banking and monetary challenges to smooth trade flows.UAE’s Economy Minister Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri echoed the sentiment, calling the joint meeting a sign of expanding relations.
“After China, the UAE has the largest amount of trade relations with Iran,” he said, noting the current trade value had reached $27 billion. “Creating new opportunities for transportation and banking cooperation is one of the achievements of this commission.”
To further cement ties, Iran has proposed forming a joint working committee between its Chamber of Commerce and the UAE Chambers Confederation. “To fully benefit from the UAE’s logistics and re-export infrastructure, a formal committee should be created between our chambers,” said Ghadir Ghiafeh, deputy head of the Iran Chamber of Commerce.
Plans are also underway to launch the Iran Chamber’s first overseas Trade and Investment Development Agency office in the UAE. Ghiafeh emphasized that such steps would enhance joint investment and ensure Iranian goods align with international standards.
UAE Chambers Federation Secretary General Hamid Mohammed bin Salem welcomed Iran’s proposals and promised support for joint initiatives.
“We are ready to facilitate B2B events and support the development of bilateral trade relations,” he said, stressing the importance of structured chamber cooperation to unlock potential in sectors such as logistics, transport, customs, and food products.
As Iran pursues a strategy of boosting non-oil exports to neighbors, closer collaboration with the UAE is poised to play a central role.
