The non-oil trade between the UAE and BRICS nations surpassed $312 billion in 2025, marking a 28.5% increase from $243 billion the previous year, and representing approximately 31% of the UAE’s total non-oil foreign trade. The figures were emphasised during the 2026 BRICS Trade Ministers Meeting in Jaipur, where UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi advocated for the prompt and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the safeguarding of international shipping. In 2025, BRICS nations constituted 34% of the UAE’s imports, received 23% of its non-oil exports, and represented 28% of re-exports for the year.

Al Zeyoudi expressed significant apprehensions regarding Iran’s assaults on commercial shipping and the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the ministerial meeting. He reiterated the UAE’s position on the necessity of safeguarding freedom of navigation and the protection of international shipping in accordance with international law. Trade ministers engaged in discussions surrounding trade resilience, market connectivity, and the challenges impacting global commerce; however, they ultimately failed to achieve consensus on a joint declaration by the conclusion of the meeting. In order to discuss developments under the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which came into effect in May 2022, Al Zeyoudi also met with Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

Non-oil trade between the UAE and India reached $76.2 billion in 2025, reflecting a 17.3% increase from the previous year. The two sides engaged in discussions aimed at enhancing collaboration in services trade, digital commerce, logistics, and food security, while also pursuing increased involvement from the private sector in high-growth sectors. Al Zeyoudi conducted individual meetings with trade officials from China, Egypt, Indonesia, South Africa, and Russia, focusing on investment, key sectors, and enhanced involvement of the private sector. BRICS currently comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, and the UAE, reflecting the group’s expansion from five members in 2024, with Indonesia joining in 2025.

The bloc accounts for approximately 40% of the global population and around 25% of the world’s GDP. The UAE is actively engaged in a broader trade initiative via its Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements, aiming to elevate non-oil foreign trade to $1.1 trillion by 2031. Since the launch of the CEPA program in September 2021, the UAE has successfully concluded 38 agreements with various economies spanning Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Of these, 18 are currently in force, including agreements with BRICS members India and Indonesia.