Stronger global commerce and an easing of the financial crisis helped boost the UAE's non-oil trade by 11 per cent in the first nine months of the year, according to preliminary government statistics.
The upturn in trade to Dh540.5 billion comes amid a rebound in trade globally. World trade volumes went up 9.8 per cent in the first three quarters of the year after falling by 14.5 per cent from the end of 2008 into the beginning of last year, according to an OECD index.
Healthier trade through the UAE's ports was driven by a "remarkable leap" in exports, the Federal Customs Authority (FCA) said in a statement. Non-oil exports grew by 39 per cent compared to the same period last year, the customs body said.
Imports grew by a more muted 5 per cent. But imports remain a much bigger part of non-oil trade than exports. The UAE imported goods and services worth Dh350.6bn in the first nine months, customs statistics say, compared to Dh61.8bn of non-oil exports. Re-exports, or goods exported to other countries immediately after they are brought into the UAE's ports, rose to about Dh128bn.
Non-oil trade volumes - and especially non-oil exports - are closely watched across the Gulf as a gauge of economic diversification and the health of the private sector. For the UAE, oil exports currently account for roughly 40 per cent of both trade and GDP, according to IMF figures.
The FCA said earlier this month that this year's rise in trade "reflects the extent of success achieved through the policies pursued by the wise government in abating the negative repercussions of the global economic crisis".
afitch@thenational.ae
Everton 1 Stoke City 0
Everton (Rooney 45 1')
Man of the Match Phil Jagielka (Everton)
The specs: 2018 Audi RS5
Price, base: Dh359,200
Engine: 2.9L twin-turbo V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 450hp at 5,700rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 1,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
