1. The UAE as a Key Trading Partner
The economic and trade relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia represents the largest bilateral relationship among the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. The UAE is also one of Saudi Arabia’s most significant trading partners. In 2025, the UAE maintained its position as a key trading partner of Saudi Arabia, accounting for 10% of the Kingdom’s total merchandise exports, ranking second only to China. The UAE also ranked third among Saudi Arabia’s largest sources of merchandise imports, accounting for 5.7% of the Kingdom’s total merchandise imports.
2. Bilateral Trade and Investment
Economic relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates continued to demonstrate strong momentum. In April 2026, Saudi exports to the UAE reached SAR 10.8 billion, while imports from the UAE totaled SAR 6.0 billion, resulting in a trade
surplus of SAR 4.8 billion. In addition, the stock of UAE foreign direct investment (FDI) in Saudi Arabia reached SAR 161.3 billion by the end of 2024, reflecting the resilience of bilateral trade and investment relations.
3. Trade Composition
In April 2026, machinery, electrical equipment and parts, as well as ships, boats, and floating structures, constituted Saudi Arabia’s principal exports to the UAE.
Meanwhile, pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, coins, and mineral fuels, oils, and waxes were the Kingdom’s principal imports from the UAE, highlighting the diversified structure of bilateral trade.
4. Financial Cooperation
In February 2025, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates signed a Financial Cooperation Agreement aimed at strengthening coordination on fiscal policies, facilitating the exchange of expertise, and enhancing investment cooperation, reflecting the continued advancement of bilateral economic and financial relations.
5. Leadership in Mergers and Acquisitions
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates accounted for the largest share of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in the Middle East during 2026, reflecting the continued dynamism of their investment markets and reinforcing their positions as leading regional hubs for attracting capital and executing strategic transactions.
The economic and trade relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia represents the largest bilateral relationship among the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. The UAE is also one of Saudi Arabia’s most significant trading partners. In 2025, the UAE maintained its position as a key trading partner of Saudi Arabia, accounting for 10% of the Kingdom’s total merchandise exports, ranking second only to China. The UAE also ranked third among Saudi Arabia’s largest sources of merchandise imports, accounting for 5.7% of the Kingdom’s total merchandise imports.
2. Bilateral Trade and Investment
Economic relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates continued to demonstrate strong momentum. In April 2026, Saudi exports to the UAE reached SAR 10.8 billion, while imports from the UAE totaled SAR 6.0 billion, resulting in a trade
surplus of SAR 4.8 billion. In addition, the stock of UAE foreign direct investment (FDI) in Saudi Arabia reached SAR 161.3 billion by the end of 2024, reflecting the resilience of bilateral trade and investment relations.
3. Trade Composition
In April 2026, machinery, electrical equipment and parts, as well as ships, boats, and floating structures, constituted Saudi Arabia’s principal exports to the UAE.
Meanwhile, pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, coins, and mineral fuels, oils, and waxes were the Kingdom’s principal imports from the UAE, highlighting the diversified structure of bilateral trade.
4. Financial Cooperation
In February 2025, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates signed a Financial Cooperation Agreement aimed at strengthening coordination on fiscal policies, facilitating the exchange of expertise, and enhancing investment cooperation, reflecting the continued advancement of bilateral economic and financial relations.
5. Leadership in Mergers and Acquisitions
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates accounted for the largest share of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in the Middle East during 2026, reflecting the continued dynamism of their investment markets and reinforcing their positions as leading regional hubs for attracting capital and executing strategic transactions.
