Vietnam’s trade with the United Arab Emirates is expanding rapidly, offering Vietnamese exporters a chance to reach a wealthy and growing market. Understanding the most effective strategies can help businesses turn this opportunity into lasting growth.

In 2025, Vietnam’s goods shipment to the UAE exceeded US$5.9 billion and total bilateral trade topped $6.5 billion. The UAE relies on imports for about 90 % of its food, creating strong demand for Vietnamese agricultural products.

Truong Xuan Trung, head of the Vietnam Trade Office in the UAE, advised firms to prioritize agricultural products, processed foods, coffee, pepper, spices, fruit and frozen seafood. He also suggested expanding exports of textiles, footwear, wooden products, furniture and household goods.

Trung emphasized that Vietnamese companies should move beyond raw‑material shipments by investing in deeper processing, adding value, and developing their own brands. He recommended forming long‑term partnerships with specialised importers, retail chains such as Lulu and West Zone, and logistics providers. He warned that price competition is intense, with some importers reviewing quotations weekly, so exporters must carefully calculate transport, insurance, warehousing and other charges. The Vietnam‑UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, effective from 3 February, removed tariffs on 74.2 % of tariff lines, rising to 89.2 % after five years, provided the rules of origin are met, as explained by Tran Ngoc Binh, head of the Import‑Export Management Office No. III. Binh also cautioned about trade‑fraud risks, urging businesses to verify commercial partners and transactions.

To succeed in the UAE, Vietnamese exporters need to focus on high‑value processed products, build recognizable brands, secure reliable distribution networks, and take full advantage of the tariff reductions while managing costs and partner risks. These steps can turn the fast‑growing UAE market into a stable export destination.