Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
Companies in the UAE are among the most confident globally about their trade prospects despite ongoing geopolitical and supply chain turbulence, according to HSBC’s 2025 Global Trade Pulse Survey.
The report – which surveyed more than 5,700 international firms across 13 countries – found that 94% of UAE-based businesses believe their operations will benefit from the shift in trade dynamics in the long term.
This surpasses the global average of 89%, putting the UAE just behind India (96%) in terms of optimism, and ahead of the US (93%).
This sentiment comes amid a wider reshuffle in global trade patterns, as many companies grapple with increased costs and revenue pressures due to tariffs and supply chain delays.
The UAE’s positive outlook contrasts with a growing sense of caution in Western markets. For example, 51% of US firms surveyed expect supply chain disruptions to reduce their revenue by 25% or more.
“As trade policies continue to fluctuate, businesses are compelled to rethink their long-term strategies. The current landscape demands agility and foresight, with companies prioritising domestic markets and exploring new regions to mitigate risks,” the report stated.
“These strategic shifts are crucial to maintaining competitiveness and ensuring business continuity in an unpredictable global economy.”
The HSBC survey highlights a global trend of “reshoring” and “nearshoring”, with 83% of companies planning to bring production closer to their customer bases.
Companies in the US have been the most active in reshoring to date (44%), while companies in China are the most likely to be planning similar steps in the future (48%).
“In parallel with these shifts in production strategy, the majority of businesses globally (nearly 90%) are also planning to diversify their supplier base – expanding across multiple regions to further reduce their exposure to tariffs and ongoing trade uncertainty,” the report said.
While the financial impact of ongoing trade disruption is expected to be substantial and long-lasting, the HSBC survey highlights strong signs of resilience and of corporate confidence.
Across all surveyed markets, 77% of companies say the uncertainty has prompted them to evolve and seek new opportunities.
Innovation is emerging as a core response strategy, according to the report. Nearly 9 in 10 businesses globally report they have already invested in or are planning to invest in tools to enhance supply chain visibility, adopt automation in production and logistics, or improve their use of data analytics.
The same proportion of respondents are expanding into new markets, developing new products, adopting technology, or adjusting cost structures to respond to shifting trade dynamics.
Nearly 60% of all respondents have already adopted a new technology or digital platform, while 56% improved internal efficiency or altered their cost base and 51% have developed new products or services.
