Imports accounted for the lion’s share of Dubai’s non-oil foreign trade in the first quarter of 2017, totalling Dh201 billion (3 per cent growth) while exports accounted for Dh35 billion and re-exports Dh91 billion (5 per cent growth). The volume of Dubai’s external non-oil trade reached 24 million tonnes, while imports reached 15.84 million tonnes, re-exports 4.24 million tonnes, and exports 3.84 million tonnes. Direct trade grew 3.5 per cent to Dh209 billion in the first quarter of 2017, while Free Zone trade accounted for Dh108.5 billion. Customs warehouse trade grew 31 per cent in the first quarter to reach Dh9.1 billion compared to the same period in 2016. Meanwhile, Dubai’s non-oil foreign trade conducted through land transportation grew 14.7 per cent to reach Dh61 billion in the first quarter while sea trade accounted for Dh118 billion, and air trade reached Dh147.3 growing 1.1 per cent. Asia topped the list of markets that conduct non-oil trade with Dubai, accounting for business worth Dh208 billion in the first quarter of 2017. Europe came second with Dh54 billion, Africa third at Dh32 billion, North America fourth at Dh25 billion, South America fifth at Dh4 billion, and Oceania including Australia sixth at Dh3 billion. China maintained its position as Dubai’s biggest partner in the first quarter of 2017 with Dh44.15 billion worth of trade or 13.5 per cent of the total value, followed by India with Dh25.4 billion representing 7.8 per cent of Dubai’s total non-oil foreign trade, while the USA came third with a total Dh22 billion or 6.7 per cent of total trade. Saudi Arabia is Dubai’s leading business partner among GCC and Arab countries, and its fourth biggest trade partner, with business worth Dh15.22 billion, representing 4.7 per cent of Dubai’s total trade with the world. Mobile phones topped the list of high-value commodities in Dubai’s foreign trade, in the first three months of 2017, with Dh45 billion (14 per cent of total trade). Next on the list was gold with Dh39 billion (12 per cent of total trade), followed by diamonds at Dh26 billion (8 per cent of total trade). Vehicles came fourth at Dh18 billion (5 per cent of total trade), followed by jewellery at Dh15 billion (5 per cent of total trade).