February 23, 2026
Methodology About Newsletter
WE THE UAE 2031
The Vanderbilt Terminal for the UAE's National Transformation
INDEPENDENT GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE FOR THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% | UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% |

Definition

BRICS is a multilateral grouping of major emerging economies originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The bloc functions as an alternative platform to Western-dominated institutions for economic cooperation, development finance, and geopolitical coordination. BRICS members collectively represent approximately 45 percent of the world’s population and more than 35 percent of global GDP (in purchasing power parity terms). The group operates the New Development Bank (NDB) and has pursued initiatives in de-dollarisation, intra-bloc trade settlement, and reform of global governance structures.

UAE Context

The UAE was invited to join BRICS at the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg in August 2023, alongside Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Iran. The UAE’s membership became effective on 1 January 2024. The accession reflects the UAE’s foreign policy of strategic diversification — maintaining deep partnerships with Western nations while building substantive relationships with non-Western powers. The UAE’s appeal to BRICS members lies in its position as a global trade hub, energy exporter, financial centre, and logistics corridor connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Key Data

The UAE’s bilateral trade with BRICS founding members exceeded USD 200 billion in 2023. India alone accounted for approximately USD 85 billion, making it the UAE’s largest trading partner. China-UAE trade exceeded USD 70 billion. The UAE has signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) with India and is negotiating similar frameworks with other BRICS members. BRICS membership gives the UAE a seat in a forum representing markets with a combined GDP exceeding USD 30 trillion.

Vision 2031 Significance

BRICS membership amplifies the UAE’s strategy of positioning itself as a neutral, globally connected node in a multipolar world. It opens new channels for trade, investment, and institutional cooperation outside Western frameworks while preserving the UAE’s existing Western partnerships. For Vision 2031, BRICS membership provides market access, diplomatic leverage, and institutional voice in the global governance structures that will shape economic rules in the coming decades.

  • Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) — Bilateral trade frameworks the UAE is pursuing with BRICS partners.
  • Economic Diversification — The strategic objective that multipolar engagement supports.
  • Foreign Policy — The UAE’s balanced approach to great-power relationships.
  • New Development Bank (NDB) — The BRICS-established development finance institution.