Dubai’s economy achieves 5.3% growth in the third quarter of 2025

DUBAI, 31st January, 2018 (WAM) – Dubai’s economy has continued to consolidate its upward path and achieve achievements that reflect its resilience and ability to grow sustainably, as it recorded a gross domestic product of approximately 355 billion dirhams during the first nine months of 2025, including 113.8 billion dirhams in the third quarter alone.

The economy achieved strong growth of 4.7% during the first nine months, and 5.3% in the third quarter, compared to the same period in 2024, which reflects the vitality of the local economy and the success of the development policies that are leading the process of prosperity in the emirate.

On this occasion, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai, said: “Dubai is achieving strong growth based on the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, and the strength of the team that works with faith, ambition and determination, which is translated by the numbers we see today.”

His Highness added: “The growth we see today in Dubai’s economy goes beyond what the numbers show, as it means more economic prosperity, family well-being, and growing confidence in the future of the emirate.”

His Highness praised the efforts of the various teams, saying: “Dubai does not depend on one sector, but rather on an economic system in which all sectors are integrated, to grow together with strength and stability, based on harmonious work teams united by the determination to achieve the emirate’s higher goals.”

The figures show that the activities sector in the field of human health and social work topped the most developed sectors, achieving 15.4%, making its contribution 1.5% to the emirate’s gross domestic product.

The financial and insurance activities sector also recorded a strong growth of 8.5%, contributing 12% to the gross domestic product in the emirate during the first nine months, in parallel with the construction sector, whose growth also reached 8.5%, contributing 6.7% to the gross domestic product in the emirate.

For his part, His Excellency Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director-General of the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai, said: “Dubai’s economic performance during the first nine months of 2025 reflects our ability to maintain the sustainability of growth and accelerate its pace. Under the guidance of the wise leadership, we will continue to work to achieve more achievements according to a model characterized by joint cooperation and clarity, so that strategies, policies and implementation mechanisms are integrated across various government agencies, providing an ideal environment for the private sector that enables it to invest and expand with confidence.” In addition to attracting competencies, talents and capital, which will ensure that the business sector, from emerging projects to multinational companies, is able to seize opportunities for accelerated growth, cooperation with our partners in the public and private sectors will enable us to launch initiatives that enhance competitiveness and open new horizons of opportunities, ensuring that Dubai maintains its steady path towards achieving the ambitious goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda 33.”

Commenting on these results, His Excellency Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri, Director General of Digital Dubai, said: “The positive indicators we see reflect the image of a strong economy based on long-term planning, and based on a future vision of leadership that believes in integration between sectors, and in sustainable investment in people and technology to create a better future for all. This upward curve is nothing but the product of a dynamic economic system that combines diversity and flexibility, and is based on proactive policies capable of transforming global changes into opportunities for growth and expansion.”

His Excellency added: “Dubai has proven that an economy supported by digitization, advanced technology, data, and artificial intelligence is an economy that is more resilient and more prepared for the future. Therefore, this performance is not just numbers that we see on a screen, but rather a message of confidence and hope that reflects the success of the Dubai model in building a competitive and sustainable economy that enhances partnership between the government and private sectors, and provides an attractive global environment for investment, business, and innovation. It also confirms that we are moving with confidence towards achieving the goals of the D33 Dubai Economic Agenda and consolidating Dubai’s position.” Among the best economic cities in the world.

For his part, His Excellency Younis Al Nasser, CEO of the Dubai Data and Statistics Corporation, affiliated with Dubai Digital, said: “The growth indicators achieved in the GDP of the Emirate of Dubai represent an embodiment of the advanced position that the emirate’s economy has reached, and its ability to develop confidently in a changing global environment, based on tight management of data and statistics as a strategic tool for accurately reading reality and anticipating the future. Data today represents the compass that guides economic policies, illuminates growth paths, and supports building a competitive economy.” Knowledge-based.”

Al Nasser added: “The advanced integration of data between government agencies and the private sector has contributed to providing a comprehensive and accurate picture of the economic landscape, which allows decision-makers and investors to make more proactive and effective decisions. This integration, supported by digitization and advanced technologies, reflects the maturity of Dubai’s data system, and confirms the success of its model in transforming data into real economic value that contributes to enhancing productivity, stimulating innovation, and accelerating sustainable growth.”

His Excellency Hadi Badri, Executive Director of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation, the economic development arm of the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai, said: “These results confirm that Dubai’s distinctive and effective approach is bearing fruit, in line with the directives of the wise leadership. Growth is achieved across a diverse base that includes trade and retail, financial services, construction and real estate, information and communications technology, and the tourism sector, while fast-growing sectors such as healthcare reflect the development of new growth areas with core sectors. Our focus is on continuing to transform This momentum will lead to faster and broader expansion by working with partners from the public and private sectors to provide practical incentives, whether through supportive legislation for growth, facilitating investment, talent development and innovation programmes, or data-driven digital initiatives to improve productivity, with the aim of enhancing the ease of doing business, unleashing potential and accelerating the next phase of Dubai’s growth.”

The activities sector in the field of human health and social work witnessed the largest percentage of growth in the first nine months of 2025, as it grew by 15.4%, reaching a total value added of 5.3 billion dirhams, contributing 1.5% of the gross domestic product.

During the third quarter of 2025, the sector achieved a growth of 8.7%, bringing its added value to 2 billion dirhams, compared to 1.8 billion dirhams in the same period of 2024, with a contribution of 1.8% of the emirate’s domestic product.

During the first nine months, the financial and insurance activities sector achieved a growth rate of 8.5% compared to the same period in 2024, reaching a value of 42.8 billion dirhams, compared to 39.4 billion dirhams for the same period in 2024, bringing its contribution to the GDP of the Emirate of Dubai to 12%.

Its growth rate in the third quarter of 2025 reached 12.9%, contributing 11.1% of the gross domestic product, achieving an added value of 12.6 billion dirhams.

The same applies to the construction sector, which achieved a similar growth rate, recording 8.5% compared to the same period in 2024, and the added value of the sector amounted to about 23.9 billion dirhams during the first nine months of 2025, contributing 6.7% to the gross domestic product.

The growth rate in the third quarter of 2025 was 8.5%, contributing 6.8% of the gross domestic product to enhance economic activity during the period.

The real estate activities sector achieved a growth of 6.7% during the first nine months of 2025, and its contribution to the emirate’s gross domestic product reached 8.2% with a total value of 29.1 billion dirhams.

Its growth rate reached 6% in the third quarter of 2025, contributing 8.2% of the gross domestic product and a value of 9.3 billion dirhams, compared to 8.8 billion dirhams recorded during the same period in 2024.

The information and communications sector was able to achieve a growth rate of 4.8% during the first nine months of 2025, reaching a value of 16.6 billion dirhams, and its contribution to the gross domestic product reaching 4.7%.

Its growth rate in the third quarter of 2025 was about 3.9%, contributing 5.1% to the gross domestic product, with its added value reaching 5.8 billion dirhams, compared to 5.6 billion dirhams for the same period in 2024.

During the first nine months of 2025, the accommodation and food services sector achieved a growth rate of 4.7% compared to the same period in 2024, reaching a value of 12 billion dirhams, compared to 11.5 billion dirhams during the same period in 2024, and its contribution to the gross domestic product of the Emirate of Dubai reached 3.4%.

Its growth rate reached 4.3% in the third quarter of 2025, contributing 3% to the gross domestic product, reaching a value of 3.4 billion dirhams, compared to 3.3 billion dirhams for the same period in 2024.

This coincided with the growth of international visitors, as the Emirate of Dubai received 13.95 million international visitors during the first nine months of 2025, representing a growth of 5% compared to the same period in 2024.

The value of the wholesale and retail trade sector reached 86.9 billion dirhams during the first nine months of 2025, achieving a growth rate of 4.6% compared to the same period in 2024.

The sector recorded a growth of 4.9% during the third quarter of 2025, with a contribution of 25.9% and a total of 29.5 billion dirhams in the GDP.

Other sectors also achieved varying growth rates during the first nine months of 2025, which together recorded a growth of 2.2%. Other sectors also grew in the third quarter of 2025 by 2.9% compared to the same period in 2024.

It is noteworthy that the Dubai Data and Statistics Corporation is re-estimating the time series of the gross domestic product and various economic indicators, as part of its continuous keenness to enhance transparency and improve the quality, accuracy and reliability of statistical data, in a way that supports the decision-making process and contributes effectively to achieving the comprehensive development goals of the Emirate of Dubai.

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