In a historic achievement, the non-oil sector’s contribution to the UAE’s GDP soared to 77.3% in Q1 2025, as per preliminary figures from the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center.
Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, highlighted, “This unprecedented level in the non-oil economic contribution underscores the UAE’s robust economic diversification and validates national policies focused on fostering a knowledge and innovation-driven economy.”
Aligned with the “We the UAE 2031” vision, the goal is to elevate the country’s GDP to Dh3 trillion by the next decade.
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Recent data showed UAE’s real GDP rose by 3.9% in Q1 2025, largely driven by a 5.3% increase in non-oil sectors.
The GDP reached Dh455 billion in the first quarter, with the non-oil segment contributing Dh352 billion, led by manufacturing, finance, insurance, and construction sectors.
Al Marri noted these figures affirm the UAE economy’s strength and capacity for sustained growth.
“They also validate the nation’s comprehensive development model, reflecting investor and global community confidence in the UAE’s business climate, which stands as a global benchmark for advanced economic policies and growth-stimulating legislative frameworks,” Al Marri stated.
Hanan Mansour Ahli, director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, emphasized that the GDP growth demonstrates the effectiveness of the UAE’s economic model and the government’s successful implementation of sustainable economic directives, boosting diversification efforts.
She noted the over 5% growth in non-oil GDP aligns with the UAE’s vision for a technologically advanced, diversified economy that offers an enabling environment for businesses and innovative ideas to flourish.
Top performing sectors
During January-March 2025, manufacturing rose by 7.7%, followed by finance, insurance, and construction at 7.0%. Real estate activities grew by 6.6%, and trade by 3.0%.
The trade sector led non-oil GDP contributions at 15.6%, with finance and insurance at 14.6%, manufacturing at 13.4%, construction at 12.0%, and real estate activities at 7.4%.
