Dubai: The value of the UAE’s non-oil foreign trade in the first nine months of 2017 reached Dh1.17 trillion, staying almost flat from the Dh1.16 trillion registered in the same period in 2016.

According to data from the UAE’s Federal Customs Authority (FCA), imports to the UAE amounted to Dh708.2 billion in the first nine months of the year, with gold accounting for the most imports.

Native gold and semi-processed gold were 14 per cent of total non-oil imports, and amounted to Dh98 billion.

Mobile phones came in second place on the list of imports, with a value of Dh66 billion (9 per cent). They were followed by cars, with a value of Dh37.5 billion (5.3 per cent).

Meanwhile, non-oil exports from the UAE reached Dh139.1 billion in the first nine months of 2017, with gold also being the top exported product. Gold exports amounted to Dh41.2 billion, representing 30 per cent of the country’s total non-oil exports.

Re-exports amounted for Dn325 billion in the first nine months of last year, with mobile phones being the most re-exported commodity.

In terms of trading partners, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific region remained the UAE’s top non-oil trade partner, with a share of 42 per cent of the country’s total trade (and a value of Dh470.4 billion).