According to the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center of the UAE, the country's real GDP grew by 4.2% in the first half of 2025, reaching 929 billion dirhams, compared to the same period in 2024. The non-oil GDP grew by 5.7% and amounted to 720 billion dirhams. The contribution of non-oil sectors to the real GDP reached 77.5%, while oil activities accounted for 22.5% of the country's semi-annual economy.
Abdullah bin Touq, Minister of Economy and Tourism, stated that thanks to the wise leadership of the UAE, a proactive approach based on adapting to economic changes has been adopted. This has been reflected in the development of competitive economic strategies and legislation, enhancing economic openness, creating an enabling environment for the private sector to participate in the growth of non-oil sectors, and localizing technology and digital transformation in vital and advanced economic sectors. This has contributed to the UAE presenting a leading model for economic diversification and serving its future vision of becoming a global hub for the new economy by the end of the next decade.
He noted that the positive results achieved by the national economy in the first half of 2025, led by the 5.7% growth in non-oil GDP, reflect the strength and competitiveness of the country's economic performance, as well as the efficiency of the economic policies pursued by the UAE government. This also confirms the consistency of our steps towards reducing dependence on oil, enhancing national non-oil industries, and achieving the economic targets of the "We the UAE 2031" vision.
Meanwhile, Hanan Mansour Ahli, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, confirmed that the strong GDP performance of 929 billion dirhams in the first half of 2025 reflects the resilience of the UAE's national economy and the continuity of the growth momentum driven by non-oil activities such as trade, manufacturing, and construction.
The Mastercard Institute forecasts that the UAE's GDP will grow by 4.3% in 2026, with the non-oil sector expected to be even stronger, at around 5%. The increase in the contribution of non-oil sectors to 77.5% confirms the success of the economic diversification policies pursued by the state and its ability to create a flexible and sustainable productive environment based on knowledge and innovation, in line with the state's direction towards building the economy of the future.
In the first half of 2025, the finance and insurance sector led other economic activities in terms of growth rate compared to the same period last year, growing by 8.3%, followed by the construction and building sector, which grew by 7.9%. The manufacturing sector grew by 7.0%, and the real estate activities by 6.5%.
Regarding the economic activities contributing the most to non-oil GDP in the first half of 2025, the trade sector ranked first with a contribution of 16.1%, followed by the finance and insurance sector at 14.0%, then manufacturing at 13.8%, construction at 11.8%, and real estate activities at 7.8%.
It is worth noting that the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries witnessed positive growth in the first half of 2025, with the UAE leading the growth rates, supported by non-oil sectors. This reflects the results of strategic initiatives and policies aimed at enhancing economic diversification in the UAE and contributing to the joint GCC economic path, which reflects balanced progress that enhances economic stability in the region.
