5.7% growth in the UAE’s non-oil GDP during the first half of 2025

The Federal Center for Competitiveness and Statistics announced that the real GDP of the UAE recorded a growth of 4.2%, with a value amounting to 929 billion dirhams during the first half of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, while the non-oil GDP achieved a growth of 5.7%, with a value amounting to 720 billion dirhams, and the percentage of contribution of non-oil activities to the real GDP reached 77.5%, while oil activities contributed by a percentage 22.5% during the first half of 2025.

Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, confirmed that the UAE, thanks to the directives of its wise leadership, has adopted a proactive approach based on keeping pace with economic changes and trends locally, regionally and globally, which was manifested in developing competitive economic strategies and legislation, enhancing economic openness to the world, and creating a stimulating business environment for the private sector to participate in the growth of non-oil sectors, in addition to the localization of technology and digital transformation in vital and advanced economic sectors, which contributed to presenting the UAE as a pioneering model. It is a role model in economic diversification, and serves its future vision of becoming a global center for the new economy by the next decade.

He said: The positive results achieved for the national economy during the first half of 2025, most notably the growth of non-oil GDP by 5.7%, reflect the strength and competitiveness of the country’s economic performance and the efficiency of the economic policies followed by the UAE government. It also confirms the stability of our steps towards reducing dependence on oil, strengthening national non-oil industries, and achieving the economic goals of the “We Are the Emirates 2031” vision.

For her part, Hanan Mansour Ahli, Director of the Federal Center for Competitiveness and Statistics, confirmed that the results of the strong performance of the gross domestic product during the first half of 2025, amounting to 929 billion dirhams, reflect the strength of the national economy of the UAE, and the continuity of the growth momentum led by non-oil activities such as trade, manufacturing, and construction industries. She said, “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 production environment based on knowledge and innovation, and keeping pace with the state’s trends towards building the economy of the future.”

Financial and insurance activities topped the rest of the economic activities in terms of growth rate during the first half of this year compared to the same period last year, as they witnessed a growth of 8.3%, followed by the construction sector, which achieved a growth of 7.9%, while manufacturing industries grew by 7.0%, and real estate activities by 6.5%.

In the field of economic activities that contribute most to the non-oil GDP during the first half of 2025, the trade sector ranked first with a contribution rate of 16.1%, and the finance and insurance sector came in second place with a contribution of 14.0%, followed by manufacturing industries with a contribution of 13.8%, while the contribution of the construction sector reached 11.8%, and real estate activities 7.8%.

It is noteworthy that the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries witnessed positive growth during the first half of 2025, and the UAE topped the growth rates supported by non-oil sectors, which reflects the results of strategic initiatives and policies aimed at enhancing economic diversification in the UAE, and contributing to supporting the joint Gulf economic path in a way that reflects balanced progress that enhances economic stability in the region.