In charts: How UK-GCC trade has soared

The UAE was the UK’s largest trade partner in the GCC region last year, worth nearly $30 billion according to the latest data.

Saudi Arabia followed with more than $22 billion while Kuwait encountered the fastest growth rate of 118 percent as total UK-GCC trade rose sharply to $83 billion.

Below, is the story of a flourishing trade relationship in charts and tables.

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Saudi Arabia

Total UK exports to Saudi Arabia amounted to $16.5 billion, an increase of 14.8 percent. Imports from Saudi Arabia totalled $7.1 billion, up 131.9 percent. 

Of all UK exports to Saudi Arabia, $5.8 billion were goods and $10.9 billion were services.

UAE

UK exports to the UAE came to $20 billion, an increase of 65 percent. Imports from the UAE amounted to $9.6 billion, up 59.3 percent.

Goods made up 60.3 percent of all UK exports to the UAE.

Qatar

Exports to Qatar amounted to $7.2 billion, an increase of 116.1 percent. Total UK imports from Qatar came to $10.1 billion, up 118.1 percent.

A whopping 91.6 percent of exports were goods.

Kuwait

Total UK exports to Kuwait amounted to $3.2 billion, an increase of 39.3 percent. Imports from Kuwait came to $4.1 billion, up 290 percent.

Of all UK exports to Kuwait, 26 percent were goods and 74 percent services.

Bahrain

Exports to Bahrain were $877 million, up 8.9 percent. Total UK imports from Bahrain amounted to $3.1 billion, an increase of 106 percent.

Goods accounted for 56.4 percent of UK exports to Bahrain.

Oman

UK exports to Oman were worth $1.4 million, an increase of 49.8 percent. UK imports from Oman amounted to $355 million, up 29.4 percent.

Of all UK exports to Oman, 43.9 percent were goods and 56.1 percent were services.

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