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This year is UAE’s best economically, says Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid

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The UAE’s non-oil foreign trade grew to a record Dh1.239 trillion in the first half of 2023, a growth of 14.4 per cent compared to the same period last year with China, India and the US staying the top trading partners.

Announcing the achievement, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said: “The UAE’s non-oil export continues to set unprecedented records as it rose 22 per cent with the top 10 global trading partners in 2023… The bilateral trade with Türkiye recorded one of the highest growth rates in the first half of 2023, with 87.4 per cent growth compared to the same period in 2022,”

Sheikh Mohammed also posted a message on the X (formerly Twitter) platform: “2023 will be the best economic year in the history of our country.”

CEPA, imports and exports

The UAE’s non-oil foreign trade has seen a continued upward trend, achieving quarter-on-quarter growth since 2020. The growth is driven by multiple factors such as UAE’s investor-friendly policies and the signing of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) with many countries. This has also improved the country’s overall economic profile.

“The UAE will remain a major player in international trade, maintaining its position as a bridge linking the East with the West, and the North with the South,” added the UAE Vice-President.
Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said these results coincide with the CEPA programme, which is deepening ties with key markets around the world – including India and Türkiye, two of largest export destinations. “We can anticipate new milestones as more CEPAs are signed,” said Al Zeyoudi.

Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, last year said the country aimed to sign 26 CEPAs in the coming few years to boost foreign trade with major partners.

Top trading partners

The Ministry of Economy said China has retained its position as the UAE’s leading global trading partner, followed by India, the US and Saudi Arabia. Türkiye, with whom the UAE signed a CEPA in March, came in fifth place, with Iraq, Switzerland, Japan, Hong Kong, and Russia completing the top 10.
Overall, the UAE’s top ten trading partners witnessed a combined growth of 16.7 per cent in non-oil trade, while the rest of the markets accounted for 12.4 per cent growth.

Gold, aluminium, oils, cigarettes, copper wires and jewellery topped the list of the UAE’s most prominent exports. Gold exports registered the highest growth of 40.7 per cent to reach Dh218.3 billion.

Announcements

DP World ILT20 Season 4 player auction set for September 30

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The DP World International League T20 Player Auction for Season 4 will be held on Tuesday, 30 September in Dubai. The six tournament teams will each get the opportunity of adding 13 players each (a total of 78 players) to their Season 4 squads at the auction. Players interested in appearing for the Player Auction can register here. The last date of registration is Wednesday, 10 September.

The six franchises will have a combined purse of USD 4.8 million to spend at the Player Auction. Details about the available budgets for the teams (including the remaining budgets from their direct signing allotment which can be used in the Player Auction), the auction order and the players list will be shared in due course.

DP World ILT20 CEO David White: “We are delighted to confirm the DP World International League Season 4 Player Auction date – Tuesday, 30 September. The auction is a big milestone for the league as we continue to grow as a world-class T20 tournament. The auction will be a great opportunity for our franchises to add local and international firepower to their Season 4 squads.

“For the UAE players, the ACC Asia Cup 2025 – September 9-28 in the UAE – is a massive opportunity for making a global impression ahead of the Player Auction. The players will have incredible exposure in the continental championship where they will be pitted against some of the top-ranked T20 teams.
“We are also set to play the third edition of the DP World ILT20 Development Tournament from later this month which – alongside the Asia Cup – is another platform for the local players to impress ahead of the Player Auction.” The DP World ILT20 Player Auction is the second phase of squads’ selection for Season 4. Earlier this month, the teams completed their new signings and retentions – a total of eight players per team. The list of those selections is available below.

DP World ILT20 Season 4 – Season 4 squads so far:

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Alex Hales, Alishan Sharafu, Andre Russell, Charith Asalanka, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Sherfane Rutherford and Sunil Narine

Desert Vipers: Andries Gous, Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Lockie Ferguson, Max Holden, Sam Curran and Wanindu Hasaranga

Dubai Capitals: Dasun Shanaka, Dushmantha Chameera, Gulbadin Naib, Luke Wood, Muhammad Jawadullah, Rovmann Powell, Shai Hope and Waqar Salamkheil.

Gulf Giants: Aayan Afzal Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Blessing Muzarabani, Gerhard Erasmus, James Vince, Mark Adair, Moeen Ali and Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

MI Emirates: AM Ghazanfar, Chris Woakes, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Perera, Romario Shepherd, Tom Banton and Muhammad Waseem

Sharjah Warriorz: Johnson Charles, Tim Southee, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Maheesh Theekshana, Saurabh Netravalkar, Sikandar Raza and Tim David
The DP World International League T20 Season 4 will begin on Tuesday, 2 December – UAE National Day (Eid-Al-Etihad) with a blockbuster opening, the six-team, 34-match tournament will conclude with the final on Sunday, 4 January 2026.

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Dubai’s RTA to open new exit to Ras Al Khor Road, cutting travel time by over 50%

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Good news for commuters, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is rolling out a new road improvement designed to ease congestion and reduce travel time near the busy Bu Kadra Interchange.


Set to open in early August 2025, the new exit will connect vehicles travelling from Financial Centre Street to Ras Al Khor Road, as part of the Financial Centre Street

road upRTA’s Rapid Traffic Solutions Plan. The initiative focuses on enhancing traffic flow and boosting road network efficiency, especially in Ras Al Khor, a growing hub for commercial and industrial activity.

According to RTA, the new exit will significantly reduce congestion at Bu Kadra Interchange. Vehicles using the collector road from Financial Centre Street towards Ras Al Khor Road will now experience shorter travel times, especially during peak hours. Journey times are expected to drop by 54%, from 13 minutes to just 6 minutes.

The new development builds on recent traffic upgrades in the area. One key improvement included the widening of Exit 25 on Ras Al Khor Road leading to Al Khail Road and Al Meydan Street. This stretch was expanded from one lane to two lanes over 500 metres, doubling the capacity to accommodate 3,000 vehicles per hour. The result: peak travel time was cut from 7 minutes to 4 minutes, easing traffic flow at a critical intersection.

RTA reaffirmed its commitment to delivering road and transport solutions in step with Dubai’s rapid urban growth, saying these enhancements are crucial to keeping the city moving efficiently.

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UAE travel: Emirates adds Hangzhou to its China network 

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The UAE’s flagship carrier launched its new daily service to Hangzhou on  Wednesday, marking yet another milestone in its growing network across China. The move comes hot on the heels of its recent route launch to Shenzhen, making Hangzhou the second new mainland destination in just under a month.

Flight EK310 touched down at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport to a warm welcome – complete with a traditional water cannon salute and greetings from local officials and dignitaries. Passengers on the inaugural flight didn’t leave empty-handed either. They were treated to souvenir keychains, flight certificates, and Chinese tea tasting sets to mark the occasion.

The new route is operated on a Boeing 777-300ER, with flight EK310 departing Dubai at 9:40am and reaching Hangzhou by 10:00pm. The return leg, EK311, takes off from Hangzhou at 12:10am, landing back in Dubai by 4:55am, making it a convenient overnight hop for business and leisure travellers.

With this addition, Emirates now flies 49 times a week to five major Chinese cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and now Hangzhou.

Thanks to seamless connectivity through Dubai, travellers from over 40 European cities, 21 in Africa, and others in the Middle East and South America can now easily access one of China’s key tech and business hubs. The route also enables convenient two-way travel between Hangzhou and global cities like Istanbul, Cairo, Johannesburg, and Barcelona.

Best of all? UAE and GCC nationals can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days, making spontaneous business trips or leisure breaks even easier.

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