The UAE economy leads the Gulf in growth in 2025

Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund, Dr. Jihad Azour, confirmed that the UAE’s economy recorded the best performance among the Gulf Cooperation Council countries during the year 2025, indicating that growth in Abu Dhabi’s economy was the strongest lever for the UAE economy, noting the country’s continued promotion of economic diversification and investment in vital sectors.

He said in a statement to the Emirates News Agency, WAM, on the sidelines of the first day of the Abu Dhabi Financial Week activities, that investment in technology and artificial intelligence represents a central trend for the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, explaining that investment in the technology sector and artificial intelligence is one of the basic elements that the Gulf Cooperation Council countries are looking forward to in the coming years, and this is a very promising sector.

He stressed that the financial sector in the Gulf countries is witnessing a growing role, saying: The financial sector in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries is also increasing in its role, whether in terms of sectors related to financial technology, or in terms of deepening financial markets.

He pointed out that the global economy is witnessing major transformations resulting from changes in economic policies, especially trade policies with the customs tariffs that have been put in place, as well as geopolitical conditions in more than one region of the world.

He stressed that the global economy, despite the shocks, maintained an acceptable level of growth, while the state of uncertainty and anticipation is still very high, and uncertainty and anticipation usually have negative repercussions over time on the economy.

He pointed out that the year 2026 is very important and requires careful monitoring of the effects of economic policies on inflation, economic and commercial activity, and financial markets.

Azour explained that the Middle East region was able to maintain stable performance despite global challenges.

He added that this improvement is due to three main reasons, the first of which is linked to the Gulf countries continuing to achieve good performance in the non-oil sector, while the second reason is linked to the rise in oil production in the GCC countries, and the third reason is due to the oil-importing countries being able to benefit from the improvement in the movement of the economy, tourism and trade.