The International Monetary Fund ( IMF) predicts that the United Arab Emirates (UAE), whose imports is projected to hit 149.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2007, will be the top importer among Arab countries this year, local newspaper Khaleej Times reported on Thursday.

A report issued recently by the IMF says that the import bill of the Arab countries, which includes foreign purchases of all Arab countries except the Palestinian territories, the Comoros and Somalia, will reach 632 billion dollars in 2007, 22 percent up compared with 516.6 billion dollars in 2006, Khaleej Times said.

It added that the imports of the UAE will hit 149.1 billion dollars, rising 21 percent over 123.6 billion dollars in the previous year.

Djibouti, an African country, which is expected to spend 700 million dollars in purchasing foreign goods and services this year, will represent the largest increase in percentage terms -- 75 percent up compared with 400 million dollars in 2006.

The second largest increase will come from Libya, whose imports will surge by 60 percent to 24.9 billion dollars in 2007, while Algeria will rank the third with an expected import value of 36.8 billion dollars this year, 40 percent higher than that of last year.