The United Arab Emirates remains the top United States export destination in the entire Middle East North Africa (MENA) region for the fourth year in a row, according to statistics released today from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Foreign Trade Division.

The new numbers indicate that the U.S. and U.A.E. shared a total of $24.81 billion in trade in 2012, a significant increase of $6.47 billion over 2011’s total trade number. U.S. exports to the U.A.E. totaled close to $22.57 billion in 2012, increasing roughly $6.7 billion over 2011’s number, and setting a new record for highest U.S. exports to the country in the history of U.S.-U.A.E. trade and commerce.

Conversely, U.A.E. exports to the U.S. remained strong at over $2.24 billion.

The record-breaking U.S. export figures released today by the government serve as both validation and justification for the work being done by the U.S. and U.A.E. governments, as well as various trade associations and partners do to promote the advancement of the U.S.-U.A.E. trade and commercial relationship. The U.A.E. is America’s top trading partner in the MENA region, supporting significant economic development and job creation in both countries.

In line with recent trends, transportation equipment was the top U.S. industrial category sending exports to the U.A.E. in 2012 ($10.51 billion). Due in large part to new flight routes launched by both of the U.A.E.’s national carriers— Dubai’s Emirates Airline and Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways — and regular aircraft deliveries to the U.A.E. last year, commercial aviation-related exports served as the largest sub-group of transportation exports ($6.44 billion).

There were also significant U.S. export increases this year to the U.A.E. in motor vehicles ($2.72 billion), ships and boats ($42.2 million), and railroad rolling stock and equipment ($3.54 million).

Other top U.S. exports to the U.A.E. in 2012 were computers and electronics ($2.58 billion), non-electric machinery ($1.86 billion), fabricated metal products (1.2 billion), primary metal manufacturing ($1.11 billion), chemicals ($952.1 million), and food products (466 million).

According to a statement released today by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. reached record exports numbers ($2.2 trillion) with over 70 of its trading partners worldwide in 2012, indicating a successful year for U.S. exports globally. The U.A.E. was one of these countries and remains a key trading partner to the U.S. in the MENA region.

2012’s trade numbers are a promising indicator that the U.S. Administration’s efforts to boost U.S. exports under the National Export Initiative (NEI) and the U.A.E. government’s plans to diversify and develop its economy are headed in the right direction. Further, trade and commerce is growing rapidly as a key and increasingly significant element of the overall U.S.-U.A.E. relationship.

Top 10 U.S. exporting States to the U.A.E. in 2012:

1. Washington- $5.059 billion
2. Texas- $2.191 billion
3. California- $1.81 billion
4. Florida- $1.7 billion
5. New York- $1.64 billion
6. District of Columbia (D.C.)- $1.62 billion
7. Connecticut- $1.1. billion
8. Michigan- $756.43 million
9. New Jersey- $727.75 million
10. Tennessee- $560.9 million