UAE Q1 2026 GDP grows 3%

The UAE's real GDP grew by 3% year-on-year in Q1 2026, reaching AED485 billion at constant prices, according to the United Arab Emirates — Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre. Non-oil GDP expanded by 4.8%, raising its contribution to 79.4% of the national economy, up from 78.0% in 2025. The financial and insurance sector led growth with a 17.3% increase, followed by construction (8.1%), healthcare (7.7%), and information and communication (5.9%). The financial sector alone contributed 2.44 percentage points to overall growth. Non-oil exports surged 23.9% in H1 2026 to AED452.8 billion, supported by Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements. Officials highlighted the success of the 'We the UAE 2031' vision, which aims to expand the economy to AED3 trillion by 2031. The UAE is also undertaking a comprehensive review of its GDP accounts to align with international standards.