Zimbabwe’s exports increasingly rely on the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has overtaken South Africa as Harare’s largest export destination. Multiple outlets report that UAE-bound goods make up a major share of Zimbabwe’s export earnings. According to official data cited by the reports, exports to the UAE account for 50% of Zimbabwe’s total export earnings in the first quarter of 2026. The same reporting indicates that bilateral trade between Zimbabwe and the UAE surpasses $5 billion in 2025, reflecting a sharp deepening of trade ties between the two countries. The shift represents a change in Zimbabwe’s trade patterns, with the UAE emerging as the principal destination for Zimbabwean exports during the period covered. The reports frame the development as part of broader growing economic links between Harare and the Gulf state, based on trade figures provided by official statistics. Overall, the coverage aligns on the key figures: a leading UAE position in export destinations and a large concentration of export earnings going to the UAE.