DIEZ recorded AED 491 billion in non-oil trade in 2025, up 46% from 2024. For a property buyer, the interesting question is what business activity sits behind that figure, and whether a particular building serves it.
The Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority covers Dubai Airport Freezone, Dubai Silicon Oasis and Dubai CommerCity. These are distinct locations and business environments; their combined performance cannot tell you the rent or vacancy level of one property.
The trade figures, with their dates attached
WAM’s 7 June 2026 report records the AED 491 billion result for the full year 2025. It also reports a 50% increase in trade volume to 667,800 tonnes and a contribution of approximately 16% to Dubai’s non-oil trade.
The value and tonnage figures describe different things: money and the physical weight of goods. Neither measures how much additional floor space companies leased. Higher throughput can make a location worth researching, but the next step is evidence about space, occupiers and costs.
A newer update gives more property context
The official update published on 17 August 2026 reports 96% occupancy across DIEZ’s three zones during the first half of 2026. Company numbers rose 13% and the workforce grew 24% compared with the first half of 2025.
Those figures offer more direct context for business premises than trade value alone. However, the reported occupancy rate belongs to DIEZ’s zones. It is not a residential occupancy rate for Dubai Silicon Oasis, a Dubai-wide average or proof that a privately owned unit nearby will lease quickly.
Keep the reporting periods separate too: the trade result covers 2025, while the occupancy and workforce update covers January to June 2026.
Would this commercial space suit a real occupier?
Start with the activity the premises need to support. An office tenant may prioritise staff access, parking and fit-out. A distribution business may need loading access, storage specifications and efficient delivery routes. Confirm permitted use and technical requirements for the actual unit.
Then compare recent agreed rents, available competing space and the cost of preparing the premises. A growing business district still contains properties with different strengths and limitations.
Would employees choose to live here?
Workforce growth can justify investigating nearby housing, but it does not show where employees live or what they can afford. Test the proposed tenant profile against rent, unit size, schools where relevant, transport and the actual journey to work.
Compare the building’s recent leases, recurring charges, maintenance and competing supply. Use our community guides to narrow the area, then examine individual buildings. Proximity on a map is only one part of the choice.
For Seven Stones, the practical use of this data is to decide where to investigate next. It helps frame questions about occupiers and employment; it does not supply a purchase price or a rental forecast.
Discuss your property requirements with Seven Stones. Tell us whether you need premises for your business or a residential investment, along with your budget and intended location, so we can make the comparison relevant to your purpose.
