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The twenty imports United Arab Emirates is best placed to replace.

United Arab Emirates imported USD 217bn of manufactured goods in 2024 and exported USD 54bn. These are the twenty that sit closest to what it already makes well and where one country supplies most of them.

USD 11bnthe twenty, imported in 2024
788products imported at scale, not yet exported well, and close to existing strengths
250products United Arab Emirates already exports well
1778product lines imported at USD 10m or more
The twenty

Demand, capability, exposure. Nothing else is claimed.

Each line shows the import bill, where it comes from, the nearest thing United Arab Emirates already exports well, and how many countries make it. It does not say whether a plant in United Arab Emirates would pay. That reason is not in any trade record, and it is the maker's question.

This edition is trade and capability only, scored out of 8. The UK edition adds which public bodies buy each product and which region holds the capability; those layers are built only where a country publishes contract awards and regional trade, and United Arab Emirates does not publish them in a form this record can read yet.

  1. 1

    Tugs and pusher craftHS 890400

    Comes fromSaudi Arabia 67%, 11 source countries
    Nearest export strengthVessels: other, including lifeboats other than rowing boats, other... (exports USD 263m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 6m
    Countries that export it well22

    Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 1.4bn, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United Arab Emirates's export strengths in the top 6 per cent (3); Saudi Arabia supplies 67 per cent (2).

    USD 1.4bnup 46% on 2022
  2. 2

    Sugars: cane sugar, raw, in solid form, other than as specified in Subheading Note 2 to this chapter, not containing...HS 170114

    Comes fromBrazil 97%, 21 source countries
    Nearest export strengthSugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing... (exports USD 269m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 3m
    Countries that export it well23

    Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 1.2bn, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United Arab Emirates's export strengths in the top 3 per cent (3); Brazil supplies 97 per cent (2).

    USD 1.2bnup 83% on 2022
  3. 3

    Vessels: light, fire-floats, floating cranes and other vessels, the navigability of which is subsidiary to their main...HS 890590

    Comes fromSaudi Arabia 67%, 12 source countries
    Nearest export strengthVessels: other, including lifeboats other than rowing boats, other... (exports USD 263m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 27m
    Countries that export it well22

    Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 705m, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United Arab Emirates's export strengths in the top 5 per cent (3); Saudi Arabia supplies 67 per cent (2).

    USD 705mup 45% on 2022
  4. 4

    Medium density fibreboard (MDF), of a thickness exceeding 9 mmHS 441114

    Comes fromThailand 64%, 33 source countries
    Nearest export strengthWood: non-coniferous species, in the rough, whether or not stripped... (exports USD 3m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 5m; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 107m
    Countries that export it well30

    Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 272m, top 7 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United Arab Emirates's export strengths in the top 8 per cent (3); Thailand supplies 64 per cent (2).

    USD 272mup 8% on 2022
  5. 5

    Cigarettes: containing tobaccoHS 240220

    Comes fromSouth Korea 43%, 45 source countries
    Nearest export strengthTobacco: smoking, water pipe tobacco as specified in Subheading Note... (exports USD 60m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 234m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 25m
    Countries that export it well41

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 423m, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United Arab Emirates's export strengths in the top 6 per cent (3); South Korea supplies 43 per cent (1).

    USD 423mdown 5% on 2022
  6. 6

    Insulated electric conductors: co-axial cable and other co-axial electric conductorsHS 854420

    Comes fromSaudi Arabia 81%, 56 source countries
    Nearest export strengthSemiconductor media: smart cards, whether or not recorded, excluding... (exports USD 150m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 26m; 7 more lines in the heading, USD 1.5bn
    Countries that export it well25

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 310m, top 6 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United Arab Emirates's export strengths in the top 20 per cent (2); Saudi Arabia supplies 81 per cent (2).

    USD 310mdown 12% on 2022
  7. 7

    Glass: carboys, bottles, flasks, jars, pots, phials and other containers of glass, (not ampoules), used for the...HS 701090

    Comes fromChina 86%, 48 source countries
    Nearest export strengthGlass: float glass and surface ground or polished glass, in sheets... (exports USD 17m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 119m
    Countries that export it well38

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 249m, top 9 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United Arab Emirates's export strengths in the top 13 per cent (2); China supplies 86 per cent (2).

    USD 249mup 71% on 2022
  8. 8

    Copper: refined, unwrought, cathodes and sections of cathodesHS 740311

    Comes fromZambia 100%, 7 source countries
    Nearest export strengthCopper: wire, of refined copper, of which the maximum... (exports USD 2.5bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 327m
    Countries that export it well22

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 244m, top 9 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United Arab Emirates's export strengths in the top 14 per cent (2); Zambia supplies 100 per cent (2).

    USD 244mdown 93% on 2022
  9. 9

    Containers: (including containers for transport of fluids) specially designed and equipped for carriage by one or more...HS 860900

    Comes fromChina 85%, 48 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 42m
    Countries that export it well22

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 226m, top 9 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United Arab Emirates's export strengths in the top 17 per cent (2); China supplies 85 per cent (2).

    USD 226mup 262% on 2022
  10. 10

    Waters: mineral and aerated, including natural or artificial, (not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter...HS 220110

    Comes fromFrance 66%, 57 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 35m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 12m
    Countries that export it well30

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 146m, top 15 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to United Arab Emirates's export strengths in the top 6 per cent (3); France supplies 66 per cent (2).

    USD 146mup 142% on 2022
  11. 11

    Aluminium oxide: other than artificial corundumHS 281820

    Comes fromAustralia 80%, 24 source countries
    Nearest export strengthGold compounds (exports USD 30m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 38m
    Countries that export it well10

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 1.3bn, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United Arab Emirates's export strengths in the top 39 per cent (1); Australia supplies 80 per cent (2).

    USD 1.3bnup 5% on 2022
  12. 12

    Food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10HS 210690

    Comes fromUnited States 14%, 78 source countries
    Nearest export strengthSoups and broths and preparations therefor (exports USD 80m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 72m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 82m
    Countries that export it well51

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 800m, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United Arab Emirates's export strengths in the top 7 per cent (3).

    USD 800mup 8% on 2022
  13. 13

    Rubber: new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on buses or lorriesHS 401120

    Comes fromChina 67%, 41 source countries
    Nearest export strengthRubber: synthetic, butadiene rubber (BR), in primary forms or in... (exports USD 67m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 23m; 5 more lines in the heading, USD 889m
    Countries that export it well18

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 783m, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United Arab Emirates's export strengths in the top 43 per cent (1); China supplies 67 per cent (2).

    USD 783mup 37% on 2022
  14. 14

    Tobacco: partly or wholly stemmed or strippedHS 240120

    Comes fromIndia 38%, 27 source countries
    Nearest export strengthTobacco: smoking, water pipe tobacco as specified in Subheading Note... (exports USD 60m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 6m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 28m
    Countries that export it well27

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 623m, top 3 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United Arab Emirates's export strengths in the top 9 per cent (3).

    USD 623mup 57% on 2022
  15. 15

    Ammunition: n.e.c. in chapter 93HS 930690

    Comes fromUnited States 82%, 9 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 152k; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 76m
    Countries that export it well19

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 594m, top 3 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United Arab Emirates's export strengths in the top 26 per cent (1); United States supplies 82 per cent (2).

    USD 594mup 317% on 2022
  16. 16

    Wrist-watches: (not electrically operated), automatic winding, whether or not incorporating a stop-watch facility...HS 910121

    Comes fromSwitzerland 70%, 39 source countries
    Nearest export strengthWrist-watches: (not electrically operated), (not automatic winding)... (exports USD 96m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 101m; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 204m
    Countries that export it well12

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 544m, top 3 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United Arab Emirates's export strengths in the top 26 per cent (1); Switzerland supplies 70 per cent (2).

    USD 544mup 12% on 2022
  17. 17

    TankersHS 890120

    Comes fromIndia 76%, 9 source countries
    Nearest export strengthVessels: other, including lifeboats other than rowing boats, other... (exports USD 263m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 9m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 803m
    Countries that export it well20

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 487m, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United Arab Emirates's export strengths in the top 36 per cent (1); India supplies 76 per cent (2).

    USD 487mup 68% on 2022
  18. 18

    Aluminium: plates, sheets and strip, thickness exceeding 0.2mm, alloys, rectangular (including square)HS 760612

    Comes fromChina 48%, 39 source countries
    Nearest export strengthAluminium: unwrought, alloys (exports USD 5.0bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 76m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 112m
    Countries that export it well22

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 432m, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United Arab Emirates's export strengths in the top 22 per cent (2); China supplies 48 per cent (1).

    USD 432mup 37% on 2022
  19. 19

    Vehicles: public transport type (carries 10 or more persons, including driver), with only compression-ignition...HS 870210

    Comes fromJapan 41%, 24 source countries
    Nearest export strengthVehicles: fire fighting vehicles (exports USD 43m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 132m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 127m
    Countries that export it well30

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 391m, top 5 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United Arab Emirates's export strengths in the top 13 per cent (2); Japan supplies 41 per cent (1).

    USD 391mup 38% on 2022
  20. 20

    Footwear: (other than sportswear), with outer soles of rubber or plastics and uppers of textile materialsHS 640419

    Comes fromChina 65%, 57 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 22m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 176m
    Countries that export it well24

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 378m, top 5 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to United Arab Emirates's export strengths in the top 36 per cent (1); China supplies 65 per cent (2).

    USD 378mdown 20% on 2022

One line per customs heading. Products United Arab Emirates already exports well and still imports are below, because they are a different conversation. No employment figures appear on this page, by decision.

Made here already, still imported

Scale conversations, not capability ones.

  • Vessels: other, including lifeboats other than rowing boats, other than warships imports USD 2.2bn, exports USD 263m, top source Saudi Arabia 91%
  • Aeroplanes and other aircraft, except unmanned: of an unladen weight exceeding... imports USD 3.0bn, exports USD 2.1bn, top source India 53%
  • Floating or submersible drilling or production platforms imports USD 761m, exports USD 203m, top source China 64%
  • Iron or steel (excluding cast iron or stainless steel): seamless, line pipe of... imports USD 366m, exports USD 67m, top source China 82%
  • Clothing: worn, and other worn articles imports USD 270m, exports USD 87m, top source United Kingdom 33%
  • Dredgers imports USD 160m, exports USD 48m, top source China 67%
  • Iron or steel: structures and parts thereof, props and similar equipment for... imports USD 217m, exports USD 130m, top source India 32%
  • Iron or steel: structures and parts thereof, bridges and bridge-sections imports USD 100m, exports USD 25m, top source Bahrain 88%
  • Wrist-watches: (not electrically operated), (not automatic winding), whether... imports USD 167m, exports USD 96m, top source Switzerland 83%
  • Perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations: personal deodorants and... imports USD 140m, exports USD 84m, top source United States 17%
How the twenty were chosen

Three scores, each from a field the record carries.

Import bill, 0 to 3, by percentile among the 1778 lines imported at USD 10m or more: above the median one point, top quarter two, top tenth three.

Proximity to export strengths, 0 to 3, on the same percentiles: the product-space method (Hidalgo, Klinger, Barabasi and Hausmann, Science 2007) on CEPII's BACI file of every bilateral trade flow for 2024, 157 countries and 5,388 products. Two products are close when the countries that export one well tend to export the other well. Only products in the upper half for proximity can enter the list at all: best placed is a proximity claim.

Supply concentration, 0 to 2: one point when a single country supplies 40 per cent or more, two at 60 per cent.

Scope. Manufactured goods, customs chapters 16 to 96, excluding ores, fuels and precious metals. Primary agriculture is out of scope for a page about manufacture.

What it cannot tell you

A map of where to look.

Trade data says what crossed the border, not why. Cost, scale, patents, tariffs and the plain fact that a supplier is good at it are all invisible here. The world file reconciles what each pair of countries reports, so a national customs file would differ in detail. Nothing on this page is a forecast or a promise.

Source: CEPII BACI, HS22, version 202601, years 2022 to 2024. Edition of 2026-11-02. The UK edition with its procurement and regional layers is at /made-here/.

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