At the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos, Saudi Arabia attempted to prove that its “Vision 2030” is working, reporting a 20.7% surge in non-oil exports ($8.72 billion) and a total realignment of its global trade partners. 

But where are these exports going to?

TL;DR

• The UAE is Saudi Arabia’s top export destination with $223.5 billion export value
• A plan looms to link Asia, Africa, and Europe, allowing the Kingdom to serve as a primary trade bridge for energy, petrochemicals, and manufactured goods.

The visualisation above shows which nations are the top partners of Saudi Arabia, based on data from the World Trade Organization’s Tariff & Trade as of 2024, which is the most recent. 

Exports by Destination

The Current Power Players

The UAE is still Saudi Arabia’s top export destination, having the lion’s share of both traditional energy and growing petrochemical exports. 

Its location and well-developed infrastructure make it a key hub for re-exports and regional distribution.

Egypt is also becoming important as Saudi Arabia expands its logistics-hub strategy, using these countries to efficiently connect exports across Asia, Europe, and Africa. 

So, the UAE and Egypt help Saudi Arabia expand its reach, changing regional trade routes to a global network for energy and industrial goods.

Yearning to become the “Connector Economy”

The ultimate goal of Saudi Arabia in 2026 is to position itself as a “Connector Economy,” and this would be achieved by building a massive new logistics infrastructure. 

The plan is to link Asia, Africa, and Europe, enabling the Kingdom to serve as a primary trade hub for energy, petrochemicals, and manufactured goods.

By investing in ports, rail, and road networks, Saudi Arabia aims to streamline regional trade, attract global shipments, and strengthen its position in international supply chains. 

If successful, this would change its geographic advantage to a strategic economic powerhouse.

The $8.72 Billion Milestone

The 20.7% surge in non-oil exports to $8.72 billion is proof that Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is beginning to work. 

It simply means the country is no longer relying solely on oil but is also growing other export streams.

This growth reveals a shift from raw materials to higher-value manufactured goods, like petrochemicals, plastics, and industrial products. 

So, instead of just selling crude resources, Saudi Arabia is also exporting finished and semi-finished products that yield higher per-shipment revenue.

Mineral Reserves Race

Meanwhile, recently, Saudi Arabia reported that it holds $2.5 trillion worth of mineral reserves. 

Such realization makes the country a potential spotlight in the global race for critical and rare earth minerals. 

These resources are important for electric vehicles, renewable energy, and advanced technology.

This fits perfectly into Vision 2030, as Saudi Arabia tries to reduce its reliance on oil and build a strong mining and industrial base.

If successfully developed, these reserves could offer the Kingdom long-term strategic influence in the global supply chains that are presently dominated by a few countries.

ELI5 

Simply put, most of Saudi Arabia’s exports go to the UAE, which makes it the Kingdom’s biggest trading partner. 

Saudi Arabia also wants to become a major global trade hub by 2026, using large investments in logistics to connect Asia, Africa, and Europe more efficiently. 

Big projects such as the King Salman International Airport and expanded ports are a good way to help move more goods more rapidly, making the country an essential player in global trade.

Source:

World Trade Organization |  Saudi Arabia’s investment | Businesswire