India is UAE's top trade partner in 2011

India emerged as the top trading partner for UAE last year with the Gulf nation's import from the country estimated at $28.5 billion and exports at $36.2 billion, according to official data.

Among the 10 countries that comprised almost 61% of the total value of imports of UAE worth $100.6 billion in 2011, India emerged as the top nation with $28.5 billion, followed by China at $14.97 billion and the US at $14.2 billion, Federal Customs Authority said in a statement.

It added that among the 10 biggest export destinations for the UAE that constituted nearly 69% of the country's exports at $21.32 billion, shipments to India touched $9.8 billion, with the balance of trade in favour of India.

Switzerland took the second position with a volume of $3.9 billion, followed by Saudi Arabia at $1.5 billion.