China was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Unmanned aircraft with airframes or parts made by additive manufacturing. Buyers are defence agencies, commercial operators and hobby and research users.
Typical segments
- Printed airframes
- Printed parts and mounts
- Military and security drones
- Commercial survey drones
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 880621 in each country's latest reported year (in brackets), USD million.
GCC and Africa
Import value by country group, latest reported year per country, USD million.
Source: UN Comtrade
Why this market is moving now
- Import value for the 8 countries reporting every year rose 76% from 2022 to 2024.
- Demand is concentrated: one country took a large share of the region's reported imports.
About the data
Figures are customs import values (CIF, US dollars) that 15 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 880621 (Unmanned aircraft, for remote-controlled flight only, with maximum take-off weight <= 250). Each country's latest reported year is used: Bahrain 2024, Cote d'Ivoire 2025, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Jordan 2024, Kenya 2025, Kuwait 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2025, Oman 2025, Qatar 2024, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2025, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Algeria, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Egypt.
South Africa reports import values FOB (free on board) rather than CIF.
Supplier figures add up the partner breakdown that the largest importing countries reported for their latest year. Partner areas that the reporters did not specify are left out of the list.
EU export figures are Eurostat Comext values in euros for CN code 88062190 (Unmanned aircraft, for remote-controlled flight only, with maximum take-off weight <= 250), the code used on the EU page for this market. Shares, changes and per-kilogram values are calculated from these figures. No figure on this page is a forecast.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customs data from 15 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $52.3 million under HS code 880621 (Unmanned aircraft, for remote-controlled flight only, with maximum take-off weight <= 250) in their latest year with data (2025 for 11 countries, 2024 for 3 and 2023 for 1). | 52.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 880621 by the 8 countries that reported every year from 2022 to 2024 were up 76% in 2024 compared with 2022 (2022 is the first year with data for this code), from $9.2 million to $16.3 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +76 % since 2022 | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $28.5 million in 2023, or 54% of the total. | 28.5 USD million | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| Saudi Arabia followed with $8.8 million in 2025. | 8.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $38.4 million, or 73% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 38.4 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 7 African countries with data accounted for $6.0 million, or 11% of the total. | 6.0 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| China was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 86% of its reported imports, with $33.2 million, or 73% of their imports under HS 880621 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 33.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 880621 was $371.07 per kilogram across the 13 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 371.07 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 88062190 (Unmanned aircraft, for remote-controlled flight only, with maximum take-off weight <= 250) to the 4 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €814 thousand in 2025. | 814 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Cote d'Ivoire was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 88062190 in 2025, at €794 thousand. | 794 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
cmdCode=880621 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=28472413; BHR2024=328; CIV2025=35599; GHA2025=13742; ISR2025=7921000; JOR2024=2785; KEN2025=58337; KWT2025=645876; MAR2025=12937; NGA2025=9412; OMN2025=454130; QAT2024=9207; SAU2025=8824945; TZA2025=6455; ZAF2025=5848752; sum=52315918
- Figure 3
reporterCode 784, period 2023, cmdCode 880621, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 28472413; share of 52315918 = 54% (shown as 28.5 USD million)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 880621, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 38406899; share 73%
- Figure 6
cmdCode 880621, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV GHA KEN MAR NGA TZA ZAF = 5985235; share 11% (shown as 6.0 USD million)
- Figure 8
cmdCode 880621, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 46454229 / sum of netWgt 125190 kg = 371.07 USD per kg
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 2
cmdCode 880621, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ISR JOR KEN KWT NGA OMN SAU ZAF: 2022 = 9228193; 2024 = 16266085; change +76%
- Figure 2
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 4
reporterCode 682, period 2025, cmdCode 880621, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 8824945
- Figure 4
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 880621, flowCode M, partnerCode 156, primaryValue summed over reporters = 33187035; world 45218357; share 73% (shown as 33.2 USD million)
- Figure 7
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 9
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 88062190, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: CI=793976; ET=18647; GH=265; ZA=845; sum 813733 (shown as 814 EUR thousand)
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 88062190, partner CI, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 793976 (shown as 794 EUR thousand)
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Defence agencies
- Commercial drone operators
- Research institutes
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 88062190, EUR million.
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the Middle East and Africa market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
Included with the full report
- PDF report, 40 to 60 pages
- Excel data pack
- Ready-to-use charts
- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa 3D printed drones market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $52.3 million under HS code 880621 by 15 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most 3D printed drones?
The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer, followed by Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import 3D printed drones from?
China was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Cyprus, Russia and the United Kingdom.
How do GCC and African imports of 3D printed drones compare?
The GCC countries with data took $38.4 million, or 73% of the total, and the African countries with data took $6.0 million, or 11%, each in its latest reported year.
How much 3D printed drones does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 88062190 to the countries covered of €814 thousand in 2025. Cote d'Ivoire was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of 3D printed drones in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $371.07 per kilogram for HS 880621, across the countries that reported weight.
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