Abu Dhabi:The United Arab Emirates' real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached AED961.9 billion at constant prices in the first half of 2026, marking a growth of 0.4 percent compared to the same period in 2025.
According to Emirates News Agency, non-oil GDP experienced a growth of 1.8 percent, raising the contribution of non-oil activities to 79.2 percent of the national economy, up from 78.1 percent in the previous year. This reflects the ongoing diversification of the UAE's economic base and the increasing significance of non-oil sectors.
Data from the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) highlight the expansion of key non-oil sectors, including trade, financial and insurance activities, construction, manufacturing, and real estate. The growing role of these sectors is crucial for sustainable and balanced economic growth across the UAE.
In the second quarter of 2026, however, the real GDP was AED476.9 billion, reflecting a 2.1 percent decline compared to the previous year. Non-oil activities saw a contraction of 1.1 percent, impacted by regional developments and travel disruptions affecting sectors like tourism, transport, and trade.
Financial and insurance activities led growth in the first half of 2026, with a 14.8 percent increase, followed by information and communication at 7.3 percent, and health and social work at 6 percent. These figures underscore the importance of economic diversification and the resilience of the UAE economy.
The FCSC's data also reveal that trade activities made the largest contribution to non-oil GDP, accounting for 16.2 percent, followed by financial and insurance activities at 15.2 percent. The GDP figures remain preliminary and are part of ongoing efforts to update the UAE's Comprehensive GDP Revision Programme, with revised data expected in the first quarter of 2027.