60.3 billion dirhams, UAE mobile phone trade in 3 months

The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre revealed that the total value of the UAE’s foreign trade in mobile phones rose to AED 60 billion and 334 million during the first quarter of this year, compared to AED 57 billion and 483 million during the same period last year, an increase of 5%, making the country’s trade in phones second only to gold in terms of total value.

Exports and imports

The centre explained in recent statistics obtained by “Emarat Al Youm” that the value of the UAE’s total exports of mobile phones, including exports and re-exports, amounted to AED 27 billion and 539 million during the first three months of this year, compared to AED 23 billion and 196 million in the same period last year, an increase of 18.7%, while the value of the UAE’s imports of mobile phones amounted to AED 32 billion and 795 million, compared to AED 34 billion and 287 million during the comparison period, a decrease of 4.3%.

China in the lead

Statistics indicated that the top three countries with which mobile phone trade was conducted during the first quarter of 2024 were China, which ranked first, followed by Vietnam, and then Iraq, which ranked third. China topped the list of countries from which imports were made, with a total of AED 23 billion and 779 million, followed by Vietnam with a total of AED 6 billion and 43 million, while India ranked third with a total of AED 2 billion and 717 million.

According to statistics, Iraq topped the list of countries to which exports were made, with a value of five billion and 770 million dirhams, followed by Iran with a value of three billion and 39 million dirhams, then Kazakhstan with a value of two billion and 845 million dirhams.

Global Center

In addition, Ibrahim Al Bahar, retail expert and chairman of Al Bahar Consulting, said that the UAE has established itself as a regional and global centre for trade thanks to the extensive facilities provided for foreign investment and the presence of headquarters for a number of major international companies.

Al-Bahar attributed the growth of the UAE’s mobile phone trade to the great economic stability enjoyed by the country, and the high standard of living with rising income and job security, noting that the UAE is distinguished by the availability of mobile phones of various brands and models, and is also distinguished by its low prices compared to many other markets.

He pointed out that many international companies have now started working in Dubai in various fields, which supports the demand for phones, especially with the new releases, which vary according to price, which provides many options for consumers.

Shop via phones

For his part, retail expert, Devi Nagpal, said that the UAE has become a major hub for introducing various types of phones, especially new ones, most of which arrive in the UAE before many countries in the world, supported by the high standard of living, increasing income and economic stability, in addition to flexible laws that facilitate trade. He stated that the latest statistics indicate that the UAE is the second largest market for trade using smartphones, as 57% of online shoppers in the country purchased various products using their smartphones during the past 12 months, which supports the levels of phone trade in the country.

Nagpal stressed the increasing importance of phones at the local, regional and international levels, thanks to their essential role in e-commerce operations, and the spread of applications that enable support for family ties, especially for residents who are hosted by the country from more than 200 nationalities.

• 18.7% increase in the country’s total exports of phones to 27.5 billion dirhams.

Ibrahim Al-Bahr:

The growth of the UAE’s mobile phone trade is due to the country’s economic stability and high standard of living.