India accounted for nearly 15 percent of the United Arab Emirates total trade according to official data.
Therefore, India ended up in the first place and China is now on the second place.
Although the world's total trade was heavily reduced last year, the UAE's trade with the outside world increased to Dh692 billion, excluding the oil and gas industry.
This suggests that the growth outside the energy sector in the UAE is strong. In the Arab Emirates, the energy sector stands for a value of 26 percent of GDP and other sectors account for the remaining 74 percent.
Other major trading partners after China and India are the USA, Germany and Japan.
A noticeable change in the balance of trade between the UAE and other GCC countries and the West is obvious, as the trade gradually leans over to Asia. In addition, an increased domestic demand for products and services is predicted due to the high per capita income within the UAE and GCC Region.
Cecilia Helland