The United Arab Emirates' non-oil trade in goods touched a record 3 trillion dirhams ($817 billion) in 2024, up 14.6% from the previous year, as the Gulf oil exporter leans on its trade strategy to spur future growth.

Thani Al Zeyoudi, the UAE's trade minister, announced the figures in a post on X.

Earlier, UAE Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum wrote on X that the country had already reached 75% of its 4 trillion dirham target for non-oil trade set for 2031.

The UAE is widely considered to be the region's tourism and business hub, and it has invested heavily in trade and logistics infrastructure and devised policy to help accelerate efforts to diversify its economy.

Since 2021 it has initiated a raft of bilateral trade, investment and cooperation deals called Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs), and has so far negotiated deals with countries ranging from India and Indonesia to politically opposed nations such as Israel and Turkey, as well as smaller states.

The share of exports in UAE's total non-oil trade rose to 18.7% last year, from 11% in 2015, Zeyoudi said.

The value of exports to partner CEPA countries jumped 42.3% year on year in 2024, and accounted for about a quarter of overall non-oil exports, which reached 561.2 billion dirhams last year.

"Through our CEPA programme, we are securing partnerships with those nations who share our belief that open, rules-based trade is an essential driver of economic growth, development and diversification," Al Zeyoudi said in emailed comments to Reuters.

"The UAE will always take a long-term view," he said, adding the country's economic strategy is not informed by day-to-day headlines.

The country is hoping to kick off trade talks with the European Union in 2025, a move which has the support of many EU member states.