Mobile phones imports in the United Arab Emirates: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of mobile phones by the United Arab Emirates reached $25.32 billion in 2024 (45.0 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 4th largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 220 countries. That is 34% less than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 17% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2023, at $38.25 billion.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $25.32B | 45.0K t |
| 2023 | $38.25B | 65.7K t |
| 2022 | $25.99B | 48.5K t |
| 2021 | $21.32B | 43.1K t |
| 2020 | $15.06B | 41.4K t |
| 2019 | $16.85B | 41.4K t |
| 2018 | $15.65B | 43.9K t |
| 2017 | $8.48B | 11.4K t |
Where the United Arab Emirates imports mobile phones from
Most of the value came from Hong Kong (25%), Saudi Arabia (25%), China (22%). Among the main suppliers, Singapore grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | $6.41B | 25% |
| Saudi Arabia | $6.31B | 25% |
| China | $5.53B | 22% |
| India | $2.47B | 9.7% |
| United States | $1.60B | 6.3% |
| Singapore | $563.6M | 2.2% |
| United Kingdom | $471.4M | 1.9% |
| Malaysia | $268.7M | 1.1% |
| Germany | $251.7M | 1% |
| Netherlands | $184.6M | 0.7% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $563.25 per kg, 75% above the world average of $321.06. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Mobile phones exports from the United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates exported $1.22 billion of mobile phones in 2024 (3.7 thousand tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Netherlands (38%), Israel (17%), Hong Kong (14%). Among the main buyer markets, Israel grew fastest (+205% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | $458.2M | 38% |
| Israel | $203.2M | 17% |
| Hong Kong | $174.4M | 14% |
| Georgia | $154.2M | 13% |
| United Kingdom | $101.3M | 8.3% |
| Poland | $22.7M | 1.9% |
| Spain | $14.7M | 1.2% |
| Senegal | $13.9M | 1.1% |
| United States | $10.8M | 0.9% |
| France | $6.0M | 0.5% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United Arab Emirates?
The shipment records behind United Arab Emirates mobile phones imports (HS 8517.12): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
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Mirror data: built from the shipment records of the countries that trade with it.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 8517.12: Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks.
Common questions
What is the value of mobile phones imported by the United Arab Emirates?
The United Arab Emirates imported mobile phones worth $25.32 billion in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 45.0 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 4th of 220 countries worldwide, with 6% of world imports. The value was down 34% on 2023.
Which countries supply mobile phones to the United Arab Emirates?
Hong Kong was the largest supplier with 25% of the value ($6.41 billion), followed by Saudi Arabia (25%) and China (22%). The top three together account for 72%, out of 77 supplier countries in total. The United Kingdom grew fastest among the top ten, up 196% on the year.
What is the average import price of mobile phones per kg?
The average declared import value was about $563.25 per kg in 2024, 75% above the world average of $321.06 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of mobile phones to the United Arab Emirates changed since 2017?
Imports went from $8.48 billion in 2017 to $25.32 billion in 2024, an increase of 199%. The peak was 2023 at $38.25 billion. Over 8 years the average was $20.87 billion a year.
Does the United Arab Emirates also export mobile phones?
Yes. The United Arab Emirates exported $1.22 billion worth of this product in 2024, mainly to the Netherlands, Israel and Hong Kong. On balance the United Arab Emirates is a net importer of this product, by about $24.10 billion a year.
What is the HS code for mobile phones?
The HS code for mobile phones is subheading 8517.12. It sits in HS chapter 85 (electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 8517 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
For the United Arab Emirates, EximDataX reads the shipment records of the countries that trade with it and shows the companies on both sides. We can walk you through your product on a short call.
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