Dubai’s economic story through the first nine months of 2025 is one of steady lift rather than sudden spikes. The UAE’s gross domestic product climbed to about Dh1.4 trillion over the period, reflecting an expansion that held firm even as global conditions continued to shift. The pace was consistent with a country that has been methodically broadening its engines of growth, leaning on activity beyond the energy sector to keep momentum moving.
Official figures from the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre put year-on-year GDP growth at 5.1% for the first nine months. That headline number points to an economy gaining traction across multiple lanes at once, with output rising in a way that suggests underlying strength rather than a narrow, one-off boost.
The clearest signal inside the data is where the weight of growth sat. Non-oil activities were again the dominant force, expanding 6.1% and moving past Dh1 trillion in value. In practical terms, that performance underlines how far the diversification drive has progressed, with the non-oil economy not merely supporting the total but setting the tone for it.
Non-oil sectors set the tempo as key industries accelerate
Within the non-oil landscape, several industries stood out for the speed of their expansion. Financial and insurance activities posted the strongest growth at 9%, pointing to continued depth in services and capital activity. Construction followed closely with an 8.7% rise, a sign of ongoing building and infrastructure work feeding through to economic output.
Real estate growth came in at 7.9%, while manufacturing increased 6.9% during the same period. Taken together, these gains show a spread of strength across the kinds of sectors that typically reflect domestic confidence and sustained investment, from projects on the ground to activity in property and production lines.
Size mattered as much as speed. Wholesale and retail trade remained the largest contributor to non-oil output, accounting for 16.1% of the sector’s total. Manufacturing was the next largest piece at 13.9%, while financial services and construction held shares of 13.5% and 11.9% respectively. The mix suggests an economy powered not by one standout pillar but by a broad base, where consumer-facing commerce, industrial capacity, and services all carry meaningful weight.
Policy direction and data capabilities reinforce long-term momentum
The breadth of growth across industries also points to structural resilience, supported by domestic demand and the ongoing effects of investment and infrastructure development alongside private sector expansion. Rather than concentrating in a single segment, the performance appears distributed in a way that tends to make overall momentum more durable when external conditions change.
UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri framed the results as the product of long-term policy work aimed at strengthening diversification. He linked the pace of growth to the country’s shift toward a knowledge-based economy, supported by competitive legislation and a business environment designed to enable expansion in priority areas.
That direction is tied to the national “We the UAE 2031” vision, which sets the ambition of doubling GDP to Dh3 trillion over the coming decade. In the same context, Hanan Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, said the figures illustrate the strength of the UAE’s economic framework during a period of global transformation. She also pointed to the role of advanced technologies and artificial intelligence in national statistical systems, describing how improved tools can strengthen policy effectiveness and sharpen long-term development planning.
