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In charts: How UK-GCC trade has soared

By Andy Sambidge
Cars form a large part of UK trade with the GCC Reuters
Cars were among the top five UK exports to all GCC states

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.

Read the full analysis

Saudi Arabia

Riyadh 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

Place Vendome 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

Bahrain affordable real estate

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

Oman, tower, sea

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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