São Paulo – Trade in pearls, precious stones and precious metals amounted to AED 1.72 billion (USD 468 million) in Abu Dhabi, UAE last January, Emirates News Agency (WAM) quoted Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi (SCAD) as reporting.
Pearl and precious stone/metal sales made up 9% of non-oil trade for the emirate, which came out to AED 19.2 billion (USD 5.2 billion).
Abu Dhabi and the UAE are known across the Gulf for pearl and stone trade, a traditional activity for locals for over 100 years, according to WAM. Over time, the sector developed and went international.
Pearl/stone exports accounted for 26.5% of non-oil exports fetching AED 1.45 billion (USD 395 million).
Re-exports of precious items reached AED 16 million (USD 4.3 million), with imports amounting to AED 254 million (USD 69 million).
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
