UAE Leverages BRICS Membership To Strengthen Global Trade Resilience And Infrastructure Development

The UAE is leveraging its BRICS membership to boost global economic growth, enhance cross-border trade, and drive infrastructure development globally. This was highlighted during a panel discussion at the World Governments Summit (WGS) in Dubai. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman and CEO of DP World, and Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, emphasised the UAE's strategic role within BRICS.

BRICS nations collectively house about 3.3 billion people, representing over 40% of the world's population. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), these countries contribute approximately 37.3% of global GDP. The bloc is projected to surpass the G7 in global trade by 2026. The UAE serves as a crucial logistics hub, enhancing trade connectivity among BRICS countries and beyond.

Bin Sulayem noted the UAE's pivotal position: "By leveraging our strategic location and advanced logistics capabilities, the UAE is enhancing supply chain resilience and strengthening trade corridors that will benefit economies worldwide." The country has established itself as a permanent logistics hub for BRICS by developing multimodal trade routes that reduce transit times and create growth opportunities.

Emphasising transformative investments, Bin Sulayem stated, "We have created new trade routes linking Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia, significantly reducing transit times. For example, our port in Karachi enables cargo to reach Uzbekistan in just 10 days – something that was previously impossible. Through strategic investments, we are addressing global bottlenecks and ensuring seamless trade flows."

Al Suwaidi highlighted the UAE’s dedication to sustainable economic growth through its BRICS membership: "The UAE’s inclusion in BRICS presents a unique opportunity to strengthen economic ties, not only through government cooperation but also by engaging the private sector." At ADFD, there is a focus on financing projects that drive sustainable development in sectors like transport, energy, and infrastructure.

He added that ADFD prioritises large-scale infrastructure projects such as ports, railways, and airports to enhance trade flows and facilitate smoother economic exchanges. On sustainability efforts, the UAE has committed US$400 million through ADFD to the Energy Transition Accelerator Financing (ETAF) platform. This initiative aims to accelerate clean energy transitions in emerging markets.

Global Infrastructure Gap

Through its partnership with BRICS, the UAE addresses a US$4 trillion global infrastructure gap by investing in critical projects like ports and airports. These initiatives reinforce its role as a global trade leader while ensuring prosperity for BRICS economies and beyond. Al Suwaidi mentioned exploring partnerships with international financial institutions like the New Development Bank (NDB) to support infrastructure within BRICS.

"In addition to financing," Al Suwaidi continued, "we are focused on knowledge transfer and capacity-building." This involves sharing the UAE’s expertise in renewable energy, logistics, and agriculture with BRICS countries to accelerate their development.

The WGS this year is themed ‘Shaping Future Governments’ and brings together over 30 heads of state and government along with more than 80 international organisations. It features 21 global forums exploring future trends with over 200 interactive sessions led by more than 300 speakers including presidents and ministers. The summit runs until February 13th with plans to publish 30 strategic reports alongside international knowledge partners.

With inputs from WAM