Standard Chartered announced the results of its new report titled “The Future of Trade,” which positions the UAE as one of the world’s six prominent markets shaping the future of global trade. The report shows that 20% of global companies include the UAE in their supply chain redesign plans, solidifying the country’s position as a resilient trade hub with strong international connections.

The report, covering 17 markets and including 1,200 companies with annual revenues exceeding $250 million, reveals that the UAE is increasingly emerging as a key destination for global companies in supply chains. It explains that these companies use the UAE to access trade opportunities with China, ASEAN, Africa, and the United States, reflecting the country’s growing role as a hub linking major global trade corridors.

Vision

Mohamed Salama, Regional Head of Corporate and Investment Banking for the UAE, Middle East, and Pakistan at Standard Chartered, said: “The UAE’s growing status as a global trade center directly reflects the visionary leadership’s efforts to diversify the economy, enhance resilience, and invest in world-class infrastructure. This vision places the country at the heart of future trade corridors and attracts global companies to place the UAE at the core of their supply chain strategies.”

Expanding Trade

Alongside this global trend, the report also reveals that 50% of companies in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and India plan to expand their trade and investments with the UAE, confirming the country’s role in boosting trade flows within the region and solidifying the Middle East-India corridor.

Salama added: “As regional economies deepen their trade links, the UAE plays a pivotal role in connecting partners across the Middle East and South Asia. Thanks to its unique location on corridors linking the region with India, China, Africa, and beyond, the country is leading new flows that go beyond traditional sectors. At Standard Chartered, we are proud to support these ambitions by leveraging our presence in 54 markets to connect clients with global opportunities, mobilize capital, and facilitate trade growth.”

Investment

It is worth noting that the UAE’s ongoing investments in infrastructure and economic diversification strengthen the country’s growing role in regional and global trade. The country’s attractiveness is evident in its world-class infrastructure, including some of the busiest ports globally, alongside the Dh300 billion initiative aiming to raise the industrial sector’s contribution to Dh300 billion (USD 81.7 billion) by 2031. These efforts complement rapid expansion in the financial services sector, artificial intelligence, and digital infrastructure, supported by increased investment in data centers and cloud computing systems.

This diversification reflects the UAE’s trade corridors that now extend beyond oil and petrochemicals, linking the Middle East with global markets and driving new flows in renewable energy, technology, and e-commerce sectors.