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DATA FOR A BETTER FUTURE
The UAE’s real gross domestic product grew by 3 percent in the first quarter of 2026 to reach AED485 billion at constant prices, while non-oil GDP grew by 4.8 percent, raising its contribution to 79.4 percent of the national economy.
The figures reflect the continued strength of non-oil economic activities and the resilience of the national economy despite the regional challenges witnessed during the first quarter, whose impact was confined to a limited number of activities and did not affect the overall trajectory of economic growth.
Data from the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre showed that the contribution of non-oil activities to GDP increased to 79.4 percent in Q1 2026, compared with 78.0 percent in 2025, underscoring the effectiveness of the UAE’s economic diversification policies and progress towards the objectives of the “We the UAE 2031” Vision.
Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, said the results reflected the success of development policies aimed at increasing the contribution of non-oil sectors to the national economy.
He said, “The Q1 2026 results reflect the ability of the UAE’s government work system to translate the wise leadership’s strategic vision into tangible economic results that serve people and the future.
“The growth led by the non-oil economy — through sectors such as finance, trade, and information, technology and communications, which contributed significantly to non-oil GDP growth in the first quarter of 2026, raising its contribution to 79.4 percent — is not an isolated figure, but the outcome of integrated government policies and initiatives working as one system towards one goal: consolidating the UAE’s standing as a global leader in competitiveness, excellence and future readiness.”
“We continue to work with our partners in the government and private sectors to ensure that economic performance remains a true reflection of the quality of life and the opportunities the UAE provides for its citizens, residents and investors from around the world,” he added.
Financial and insurance activities led economic growth, expanding 17.3 percent year-on-year, followed by construction at 8.1 percent, human health and social work activities at 7.7 percent, information and communication at 5.9 percent, and professional, scientific and technical activities together with administrative and support services at 4.9 percent, reflecting continued momentum across vital, high-value-added economic activities.
Real estate activities grew 4.8 percent, public administration, defence and compulsory social security rose 4.5 percent, while wholesale and retail trade expanded 2.6 percent, reflecting the broad-based nature of economic growth.
In terms of their actual contribution to growth, financial and insurance activities made the largest contribution, accounting for 2.44 percentage points, followed by construction with 1.04 percentage points, wholesale and retail trade with 0.42 percentage points, real estate with 0.36 percentage points, and professional, scientific and technical activities together with administrative services with 0.29 percentage points.
Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, said the results reflect the robustness of national economic performance and its ability to sustain growth.
He said, “The results of the first quarter of 2026 reflect the robustness of the national economy’s performance and its ability to sustain growth and enhance its competitiveness at both the regional and global levels, embodying the success of the vision and directives of the wise leadership, as well as the policies and legislation adopted by the country to advance economic diversification.
Al Marri stated, “Non-oil sectors continue to lead growth, raising their contribution to 79.4 percent of GDP, supporting the UAE’s sustainable economic growth and reinforcing its position as a global hub for business and investment.”
He added that the strong performance of non-oil sectors confirms the resilience and competitiveness of the UAE’s business environment, which has continued to develop over recent years. This performance also reflects the country’s vision of transitioning towards a more diversified and sustainable economic model, capable of adapting to global developments and sustaining its growth trajectory, in line with the objectives of the ‘We the UAE 2031’ Vision, which seeks to double the size of the national economy to AED3 trillion by 2031.
The strong performance of non-oil sectors is consistent with the UAE’s expanding foreign trade, supported by the network of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements, which has opened new markets for national non-oil exports and strengthened manufacturing, trade and logistics activities.
Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, said, “The UAE’s GDP growth results for the first quarter of 2026 reflect the success of the wise leadership’s vision in continuing to build a more open and globally competitive economy. It confirms the soundness of the approach based on expanding trade and investment partnerships and strengthening the UAE’s integration into the global economy through the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements programme.
“This opens new horizons for growth, reinforces the UAE’s position as a global gateway for world trade, and enhances the country’s attractiveness to high-quality investments.”
Al Zeyoudi added, “This approach is clearly reflected in the record performance of non-oil foreign trade, as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements continue to open new markets for UAE exports of goods and services, supporting the growth of non-oil sectors, increasing their contribution to GDP and advancing sustainable economic development.
Non-oil exports grew by 23.9 percent during the first half of 2026 to reach AED452.8 billion, recording the highest growth rate among the components of the UAE’s foreign trade, which confirms the pivotal role of trade openness in stimulating domestic production and enhancing the competitiveness of the industrial and services sectors as among the country’s most important drivers of economic diversification.
As part of the comprehensive transformation of the national statistical system, the UAE is currently undertaking a comprehensive revision of its GDP accounts, including the integration of new data sources, the incorporation of free zones within the scope of statistical coverage, and the alignment and harmonisation of methodologies in line with international standards and best practices to enhance the accuracy and comprehensiveness of economic measurement.
The announced results are based on the current statistical methodology, and the time series will be updated in line with the outputs of the Comprehensive GDP Revision Programme upon its completion.
The programme is being implemented in partnership and technical coordination with a number of specialised international institutions and organisations, ensuring that methodologies are aligned with the best international standards and practices to enhance the reliability and comparability of the results.
The UAE’s real gross domestic product grew by 3 percent in the first quarter of 2026 to reach AED485 billion at constant prices, while non-oil GDP grew by 4.8 percent, raising its contribution to 79.4 percent of the national economy.
The figures reflect the continued strength of non-oil economic activities and the resilience of the national economy despite the regional challenges witnessed during the first quarter, whose impact was confined to a limited number of activities and did not affect the overall trajectory of economic growth.
Data from the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre showed that the contribution of non-oil activities to GDP increased to 79.4 percent in Q1 2026, compared with 78.0 percent in 2025, underscoring the effectiveness of the UAE’s economic diversification policies and progress towards the objectives of the “We the UAE 2031” Vision.
Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, said the results reflected the success of development policies aimed at increasing the contribution of non-oil sectors to the national economy.
He said, “The Q1 2026 results reflect the ability of the UAE’s government work system to translate the wise leadership’s strategic vision into tangible economic results that serve people and the future.
“The growth led by the non-oil economy — through sectors such as finance, trade, and information, technology and communications, which contributed significantly to non-oil GDP growth in the first quarter of 2026, raising its contribution to 79.4 percent — is not an isolated figure, but the outcome of integrated government policies and initiatives working as one system towards one goal: consolidating the UAE’s standing as a global leader in competitiveness, excellence and future readiness.”
“We continue to work with our partners in the government and private sectors to ensure that economic performance remains a true reflection of the quality of life and the opportunities the UAE provides for its citizens, residents and investors from around the world,” he added.
Financial and insurance activities led economic growth, expanding 17.3 percent year-on-year, followed by construction at 8.1 percent, human health and social work activities at 7.7 percent, information and communication at 5.9 percent, and professional, scientific and technical activities together with administrative and support services at 4.9 percent, reflecting continued momentum across vital, high-value-added economic activities.
Real estate activities grew 4.8 percent, public administration, defence and compulsory social security rose 4.5 percent, while wholesale and retail trade expanded 2.6 percent, reflecting the broad-based nature of economic growth.
In terms of their actual contribution to growth, financial and insurance activities made the largest contribution, accounting for 2.44 percentage points, followed by construction with 1.04 percentage points, wholesale and retail trade with 0.42 percentage points, real estate with 0.36 percentage points, and professional, scientific and technical activities together with administrative services with 0.29 percentage points.
Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, said the results reflect the robustness of national economic performance and its ability to sustain growth.
He said, “The results of the first quarter of 2026 reflect the robustness of the national economy’s performance and its ability to sustain growth and enhance its competitiveness at both the regional and global levels, embodying the success of the vision and directives of the wise leadership, as well as the policies and legislation adopted by the country to advance economic diversification.
Al Marri stated, “Non-oil sectors continue to lead growth, raising their contribution to 79.4 percent of GDP, supporting the UAE’s sustainable economic growth and reinforcing its position as a global hub for business and investment.”
He added that the strong performance of non-oil sectors confirms the resilience and competitiveness of the UAE’s business environment, which has continued to develop over recent years. This performance also reflects the country’s vision of transitioning towards a more diversified and sustainable economic model, capable of adapting to global developments and sustaining its growth trajectory, in line with the objectives of the ‘We the UAE 2031’ Vision, which seeks to double the size of the national economy to AED3 trillion by 2031.
The strong performance of non-oil sectors is consistent with the UAE’s expanding foreign trade, supported by the network of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements, which has opened new markets for national non-oil exports and strengthened manufacturing, trade and logistics activities.
Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, said, “The UAE’s GDP growth results for the first quarter of 2026 reflect the success of the wise leadership’s vision in continuing to build a more open and globally competitive economy. It confirms the soundness of the approach based on expanding trade and investment partnerships and strengthening the UAE’s integration into the global economy through the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements programme.
“This opens new horizons for growth, reinforces the UAE’s position as a global gateway for world trade, and enhances the country’s attractiveness to high-quality investments.”
Al Zeyoudi added, “This approach is clearly reflected in the record performance of non-oil foreign trade, as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements continue to open new markets for UAE exports of goods and services, supporting the growth of non-oil sectors, increasing their contribution to GDP and advancing sustainable economic development.
Non-oil exports grew by 23.9 percent during the first half of 2026 to reach AED452.8 billion, recording the highest growth rate among the components of the UAE’s foreign trade, which confirms the pivotal role of trade openness in stimulating domestic production and enhancing the competitiveness of the industrial and services sectors as among the country’s most important drivers of economic diversification.
As part of the comprehensive transformation of the national statistical system, the UAE is currently undertaking a comprehensive revision of its GDP accounts, including the integration of new data sources, the incorporation of free zones within the scope of statistical coverage, and the alignment and harmonisation of methodologies in line with international standards and best practices to enhance the accuracy and comprehensiveness of economic measurement.
The announced results are based on the current statistical methodology, and the time series will be updated in line with the outputs of the Comprehensive GDP Revision Programme upon its completion.
The programme is being implemented in partnership and technical coordination with a number of specialised international institutions and organisations, ensuring that methodologies are aligned with the best international standards and practices to enhance the reliability and comparability of the results.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, has approved the National Programme for Developing the Statistics System in the UAE.
This strategic initiative embodies the UAE’s commitment to enhancing the quality of official economic statistics, keeping pace with rapid transformations of the economy, and consolidating the UAE’s standing among the world’s leading economies.
The programme includes setting 2024 as the unified base year for national accounts and reconstructing the time series for the GDP of the UAE for the period 2010–2026. This will provide a more accurate and comprehensive picture of the real size, diversity, and growth momentum of the UAE’s economy, enhance the reliability of official economic statistics, and strengthen their international comparability.
This will also support economic decision-making, public policy development, and future planning, while also boosting the confidence of investors and international financial and economic institutions, thus contributing to the UAE’s emergence as a global economic powerhouse.
The programme comes in response to the structural transformations in the national economy in recent years, most notably the rapid growth of non-oil economic activities, the expansion in services, digital economy, technology, and investment sectors, and the utilisation of modern administrative data sources. That includes data generated by the implementation of corporate tax and value-added tax.
This provides more comprehensive coverage of economic activities and contributes to increasing the accuracy of their measurement, thus reflecting the country’s economic reality.
The programme is based on an integrated national framework for updating and harmonising national accounts, in accordance with the UN System of National Accounts and the best international statistical standards and recommendations. This is achieved through updating the base year, expanding data sources, and enhancing the integration of administrative records, ensuring the production of more accurate, consistent, and transparent economic indicators in line with the latest international practices.
The programme also reflects an institutional commitment to regularly updating the base year, in line with the best international standards and practices of statistics.
In addition, the programme adopts a unified national methodology for reviewing GDP data at the national level. This ensures the sustainable development of the national statistics system and its ability to keep pace with economic transformations.
All future updates will be conducted in line with internationally recognised methodological frameworks and based on the readiness and availability of national data, ensuring the continued quality and international comparability of official statistics.
The National Programme for Developing the Statistics System comprises a comprehensive review of national accounts, a globally recognised statistical practice adopted periodically by advanced statistical systems as national economies develop and more comprehensive data sources become available.
This aims to bolster the quality of GDP measurement by reflecting the continuous evolution of statistical methodologies and data sources, and to keep pace with the country’s economic growth.
The programme is executed through a comprehensive national partnership led by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, the national entity responsible for unifying official statistics across the UAE. This is achieved in coordination with local statistics centres in the various emirates and federal data providers within the framework of the national statistics system.
This approach enhances the integration of roles and the unification of data sources. The partnership includes multiple key national entities, most notably the Central Bank of the UAE, the Ministry of Finance, the Federal Tax Authority, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, the Emirates Investment Authority, Etihad Water and Electricity Company, and others. This collaborative effort provides a comprehensive national economic database that supports the development of a more accurate and detailed time series of GDP.
The National Programme for Developing the Statistics System in the UAE serves as the strategic umbrella for modernising the UAE’s national statistics system.
This to be achieved through an integrated package of legislative, institutional and technical initiatives, including the comprehensive national review of GDP, the national strategy for the statistics system, a package of policies supporting statistical work, the national platform for statistical data, the statistical leadership development programme and the UAE Principles for Official Statistics document, which supports economic decision-making and consolidates the country’s competitiveness as a leading global model in developing and producing official economic statistics.
Bin Touq:
- Results reflect the success of the UAE leadership’s forward-looking vision in in developing an advanced and sustainable aviation ecosystem.
The aviation sector continues to support economic growth and enhance the UAE’s global competitiveness.
Hanan Ahli:
- Air transport sector data reflects the efficiency of the UAE ecosystem and its role in enabling the continued growth of this vital sector.
A Success Story Driven by Data and Numbers
Results highlight the UAE’s strong performance across global aviation competitiveness indicators.
- Aviation remains a key driver of economic growth, strengthening the UAE’s position as a global hub for trade, tourism, and logistics.
- Official data and statistics continue to serve as a strategic foundation for policymaking, decision-making, and enhancing national competitiveness.
- Continued investment in airports, airlines, and logistics infrastructure supports the objectives of the “We the UAE 2031” vision.
The UAE reinforced its position as one of the world’s leading aviation hubs in 2025, with passenger traffic through the country’s airports reaching a record 156.8 million, marking a 6.1% increase compared to 147.8 million passengers in 2024. Aircraft movements also grew by 6.8%, reaching 855,300 movements.
The figures, released by the FCSC highlight the continued success of the UAE’s long-term strategy to develop a world-class aviation ecosystem through sustained investment in infrastructure, airports, and logistics services. These efforts have strengthened the UAE’s role as a global air transport hub and a strategic gateway connecting East and West, while supporting economic growth and sustainable development.
Abdullah bin Touq: UAE Continues to Strengthen Its Global Aviation Position
H.E Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Board of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), affirmed that the latest results reflect the success of the UAE leadership’s vision in building an advanced and sustainable aviation ecosystem supported by world-class airports, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks aligned with international best practices.
H.E. highlighted that the aviation sector continues to enhance the competitiveness of the national economy and strengthen the UAE’s position as a leading global air transport hub connecting East and West, as well as North and South.
He added that national efforts will continue, in collaboration with local and international partners, to further develop world-class logistics infrastructure, enhance the passenger experience, invest in national talent, and expand international partnerships, in line with the objectives of the “We the UAE 2031” vision.
Hanan Ahli: Data as a Driver for Better Decisions and Sustainable Growth
H.E Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the FCSC, stated that air transport data reflects the efficiency of the UAE’s national ecosystem and highlights the sector’s contribution to sustainable economic growth.
H.E. emphasized that official statistics play a key role in supporting policymaking, informed decision-making, and measuring national performance, while strengthening the UAE’s position across global competitiveness indicators.
“The FCSC continues to enhance the national statistical system by providing reliable, high-quality official data aligned with international best practices. This enables effective performance measurement, supports future planning, and provides a comprehensive knowledge base for decision-makers,” H.E. added.
Record Growth in Passenger Traffic Across UAE Airports
According to FCSC data, total passenger traffic through UAE airports, including arrivals, departures, and transit passengers, reached 156.8 million passengers in 2025, compared to 147.8 million in 2024, an increase of 9 million passengers and growth of 6.1%.
Arrivals increased to 44.2 million passengers, compared to 41.6 million in 2024, while departures reached 43 million passengers, compared to 41.7 million. Transit passenger traffic recorded the strongest growth, rising by 8% to 69.5 million passengers, compared to 64.3 million in 2024.
Passenger traffic by emirate reflected continued growth across the UAE’s airports. Dubai Airports recorded 104.5 million passengers in 2025, compared to 100.9 million in 2024, representing 3.5% growth. Abu Dhabi Airports welcomed 34.2 million passengers, achieving 10.7% growth compared to 2024.
Sharjah International Airport recorded 16.9 million passengers, reflecting 10.7% growth, while Ras Al Khaimah International Airport surpassed one million passengers for the first time, recording an exceptional 56.8% increase compared to 2024. Fujairah International Airport achieved the highest growth rate, with passenger traffic increasing by 170% to reach 164.6 thousand passengers.
Growth in Aircraft Movements Reflects UAE’s Aviation Capacity
The growth of the UAE’s aviation sector extended beyond passenger traffic, with total aircraft movements reaching 855.3 thousand in 2025, compared to 801 thousand in 2024, representing 6.8% growth.
Aircraft arrivals increased by 7.3% to 414.3 thousand movements, while departures also grew by 7.3% to 414.1 thousand movements, reflecting the capacity, efficiency, and global connectivity of the UAE’s airport infrastructure.
Leading Global Performance in Aviation Competitiveness
The UAE continues to achieve strong global rankings across key aviation competitiveness indicators, ranking:
1st globally in the Air Transport Quality indicator in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026.
3rd globally in the Efficiency of Air Transport Services indicator.
3rd globally in Available Airline Seats per Week per Million Population.
8th globally in the Number of Operating Airlines indicator.
10th globally in the Air Services Agreements indicator, according to the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Development Report 2024.
6th globally in the Air Connectivity indicator in the Future Readiness Economic Index 2023.
These results reaffirm the UAE’s position as one of the world’s leading aviation hubs, supported by an integrated national aviation ecosystem, advanced infrastructure, and the strategic role of official data in measuring performance and strengthening global competitiveness
- UAE delegation participates in the inaugural Global Competitiveness Summit in Zurich.
- Hanan Mansour Ahli: The UAE’s participation reflects its position as a global model for shaping the future and redefining competitiveness pillars.
The UAE delegation participated in the inaugural Global Competitiveness Summit 2026, held in Zurich, Switzerland. The event was organised by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), bringing together senior government officials, leading economists and competitiveness experts, global CEOs, and heads of international organisations. The summit featured the world’s largest high-level dialogue on shaping the future of global competitiveness in an era defined by AI, big data, and accelerating economic, geopolitical, and technological transformation.
Represented by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), the UAE took part as an institutional partner of the summit’s inaugural edition, contributing to discussions on the future of competitiveness and economic policy. The participation builds on the UAE’s ranking among the world’s top five most competitive economies in IMD’s World Competitiveness Yearbook, underscoring its global leadership in government excellence, economic resilience, future readiness, and AI.
The UAE delegation was headed by Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the FCSC, with the participation of Mariam Al Afridi, Executive Director of the Office of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum – Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, alongside representatives from First Abu Dhabi Bank Group.
H.E. Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the FCSC and Head of the UAE delegation, stated that, “The UAE’s participation as an institutional partner in the inaugural Global Competitiveness Summit launched by IMD, together with its ranking among the world’s top five economies in the World Competitiveness Yearbook, reflects its position as a global model for shaping the future and redefining competitiveness pillars. The world is moving beyond traditional KPIs towards AI- and data-driven models that will fundamentally transform how competitiveness is assessed, managed, and developed.”
“The summit reflects a fundamental shift in the global understanding of competitiveness; from measuring performance to continuously managing competitiveness in the age of AI. For the UAE, it provides an important platform to showcase its experience in leveraging data and AI to inform decision-making and shape public policy, thus enhancing future readiness, economic resilience, sustainable development and long-term prosperity,” H.E. added.
H.E. Ahli participated in the summit’s plenary session, which brought together representatives from the world’s five highest-ranked economies in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook to exchange best practices and policy approaches that promote competitiveness and future readiness. She further joined a panel discussion titled ” From lean to resilient: How companies can readjust in a volatile world.,” which examined the shift from operational efficiency towards resilient and sustainable organisational models. The discussion highlighted the importance of institutional capacity-building and economic resilience as essential drivers of sustained competitiveness and long-term growth.
Dr. Mariam Al Afridi participated in a session titled “The role of middle powers and the Global South within a realigned global order.” Her remarks explored one of the emerging dimensions of competitiveness: the rise of the experience economy as a new source of competitive advantage. She noted that the future competitiveness of middle powers will increasingly depend not on their size, but rather on their ability to create compelling experiences that attract talent, investment, entrepreneurs, and institutions. In a world where attractiveness is becoming as important as productivity, experience economy has become one of the defining drivers of competitiveness in the decades ahead.
During the summit, the UAE presented a paper titled “Competitiveness in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” examining how rapid advances in AI are reshaping the global economy, redefining competitiveness, and transforming the sources of competitive advantage. The paper highlighted the importance of developing integrated national AI ecosystems as the strategic infrastructure underpinning future competitiveness, encompassing advanced computing capabilities, data, national talent, governance frameworks, and digital infrastructure that enable sustainable growth and long-term prosperity.
The summit announced the results of the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026, ranking the UAE among the world’s top five most competitive economies for the second consecutive year. The UAE outperformed major economies including the United States, Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands, while retaining its position as the leading economy in the region for the tenth consecutive year. It ranked first globally in 21 competitiveness indicators, among the top five in 67 indicators, and among the top ten in 118 indicators spanning labour markets, infrastructure, government partnership, innovation, AI, and education.
The UAE’s participation in the Global Competitiveness Summit reflects its long-standing institutional partnership with the IMD World Competitiveness Centre through the FCSC, which leads national efforts related to the World Competitiveness Yearbook and other IMD competitiveness reports. The summit serves as a global platform for dialogue on the future of competitiveness and the economic and technological trends shaping national performance, while the World Competitiveness Yearbook, published annually since 1989, continues to be one of the world’s leading benchmarks for assessing the competitiveness of economies.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, affirmed that the UAE continues, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to advance its development journey and solidify its position as a global model of competitiveness and excellence across all sectors.
His Highness said, “Under the leadership of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the UAE continues to affirm its place among the world’s most competitive nations. The IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026 ranks us 5th globally, 1st in Economic Performance, 1st across 21 indicators, including Bureaucracy, Adaptability of Government Policy and in the top 5 globally across 67 indicators.”
His Highness added, “These results are the product of a national vision, capable institutions and teams across every sector who perform and deliver. Competitiveness for us is not a ranking to chase; it is a standard we set for ourselves every day. It is what raises the quality of life for our people, earns the confidence of the world, and confirms that the UAE is moving steadily towards a future of greater prosperity and leadership.”
His Highness affirmed that the UAE will continue to build on its position as a destination of choice for investors, a magnet for global talent and ambition, and a genuine partner for entrepreneurs and innovators, noting that the results are a testament to the strength and adaptability of the UAE’s development model.
The UAE’s performance in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026, published by the World Competitiveness Centre at the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland, places the country in the top 10 globally across 118 indicators and within the top 5 globally in 67 key criteria and sub-factors.
The country ranked 1st globally in 21 indicators, most notably Bureaucracy, Adaptability of Government Policy, Employment, International Experience, National Culture, Value System, and Quality of Air Transportation.
The UAE ranked 2nd globally in Citizen Trust in AI, Creation of Firms, Females in Parliament, and Management of Cities. It ranked 3rd globally in Image Abroad or Branding, Society’s Access to AI, Tourism Receipts, Exports of Goods and Energy Infrastructure, and 4th globally in Government Efficiency, Companies Investment in AI, and Legal and Regulatory Framework.
The results reflect the progress the UAE has achieved across labour markets, innovation, digital transformation, infrastructure, education and government policy, reinforcing its competitive standing at both regional and global levels.
The IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook is one of the world’s most authoritative references for measuring national competitiveness. The 2026 edition covers 70 economies and draws on statistical data and executive opinion surveys from the global business community to assess how effectively countries manage their resources and deliver sustainable prosperity.
The Yearbook is structured around four main factors: Economic Performance, Government Efficiency, Business Efficiency and Infrastructure, and encompasses 20 sub-factors and 342 competitiveness criteria spanning economic, administrative and social dimensions.
The UAE’s GDP grew by 6.2% in 2025, compared to 2024 according to figures released by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, reaching AED 1.9 trillion, while Non-oil GDP recorded strong growth of 6.8% over the same period, reaching AED 1.5 trillion.
Commenting on the results, H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, said: “The national economy continues to deliver exceptional performance under the leadership and guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and with the support of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.” He noted that the positive indicators reflect the success of the UAE’s economic model in building one of the world’s most dynamic, competitive, and diversified economies. He added that the sustained expansion of non-oil sectors and the growing contribution of emerging industries reflect steady progress towards the objectives of the “We the UAE 2031” vision.
“The UAE’s agile economic policies, guided by our leadership’s future-oriented vision and proactive response to global developments, have accelerated the diversification of the national economy, strengthened its competitiveness and sustainable growth, and supported the transition towards a more diversified economic structure. This further enhances the UAE’s position as a global hub for the new economy, expands its appeal as a destination for investment and business, and promotes its resilience and ability to adapt to international shifts. These achievements have been supported by a flexible business environment, advanced legislation, and a broad network of global economic partnerships,” H.E. added.
For her part, H.E. Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, stated that the strong economic performance recorded in 2025 reflects the success of the UAE’s development and economic policies in promoting economic stability and enhancing the competitiveness of key sectors. She highlighted the UAE’s continued efforts to develop its legislative framework, foster economic diversification, build a flexible and attractive business ecosystem, enhance infrastructure, and invest in key economic sectors.
“The UAE continues to promote its future economic readiness through investment in the digital economy, technology and innovation, while developing an integrated economic ecosystem that supports long-term growth and reinforces the country’s position as a global hub for business and investment,” H.E. added.
Key economic sectors demonstrated strong performance in 2025, with construction leading at 11.1%, followed by financial and insurance (10.4%), real estate (7.9%), and transport and storage (7.8%).
In terms of non-oil GDP contributions, trade accounted for the largest share at 16.9%, followed by financial and insurance activities (13.2%), construction (12.9%), and manufacturing (12.8%), reflecting the diversity of the national economy.
The results reflect the efficiency of the national statistical system in providing accurate and reliable economic data to support policymaking and informed decision-making.
National statistical entities continue to implement an integrated programme to modernise economic statistics, enhance data quality and integration, and align outputs with international standards and best practices. This supports the UAE’s ability to keep pace with economic transformation and strengthen future readiness.
“President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has issued a Federal Decree No. (6) for the year 2015 establishing the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) under the UAE Cabinet.
The new Authority, to be based in the emirate of Dubai, effectively replaces the National Bureau of Statistics and the Emirates Competitiveness Council by integrating the functions of both the entities.
As per the decree, the Authority will work to strengthen the UAE’s position across all global competitiveness indicators as well as promote sustainable development, in addition to serving as the apex body that organises and manages the statistics and competitiveness sectors.
The Authority is also mandated to build an integrated national statistical system. The establishment of the FCSA supports the goals of the UAE Vision 2021, a strategic roadmap to make the UAE among the best countries in the world by 2021.
Functions of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority Aiming to support the UAE’s competitiveness indicators, the new Authority will undertake a wide array of functions to achieve its goals.
The functions of the Authority include proposing policies, strategies and plans for statistics and competitiveness in coordination with the government and the related entities, as well as evaluating international best practices in all areas of the statistics and competitiveness sectors.
The FCSA will also work to promote a culture of competitiveness, and provide training and support to all government entities for the advancement of statistics and competitive operations.
It will act as an incubator for promoting best and specialized national skills in the UAE, in addition to preparing and implementing a unified statistical system for various sectors in the country.
The Authority will also represent the nation at various international forums in the field of statistics and competitiveness. Enhancing coordination with local entities FCSA is entrusted with a bigger vision and wider tasks to make significant positive changes in strategies to strengthen the efforts of the UAE to increase its competitiveness, especially through information and data revolution.
As per the decree, the Authority is the first and only official reference for all matters related to competitiveness for global reports and surveys.
It will be also a source of official statistics regarding the nation. The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority also will serve as the main link between all the federal and local governments, as well as private sector and international organisations in all matters related to the competitiveness and statistics.
The new Federal decree also nullifies the Federal Law No. 9 of 2009 concerning the National Bureau of Statistics, and eliminates all regulations contrary to or inconsistent with its provisions.
The federal decree will be published in the official newspapers, and shall be effective from the day following the date of publishing. The UAE Cabinet also issued a decree appointing Reem Ibrahim Al Hashimi, Minister of State, as Chairperson of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority.
The board will include representatives from the Executive Councils of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Qaiwain, Ras al-Khaimah, and Al Diwan Al Amiri in Fujairah.
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DUBAI, 12th July, 2017 (WAM) –
Senior officials of Smart Dubai Office, SDO, have discussed with a high-level delegation from the Federal Authority for Competitiveness and Statistics ways to enhance mutual cooperation. Discussions also involved how to activate mechanisms and frameworks for joint work by the two entities, and to explore prospects for building future partnerships that serve common aspirations. Held at the Dubai Smart Office HQ, the meeting was chaired by Dr. Aisha bint Butti bin Bishr, Director-General of the Smart Dubai Office, and attended by Younis Al Nasser, CEO of Dubai Data Establishment, Wesam Lootah, CEO of Smart Dubai Government, Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Director-General of the Federal Authority for Competitiveness and Statistics, and Mohamed Ahli, Executive Director of Statistics Sector, in addition to a number of officials from both entities.
Dr. Bin Bishr expressed her delight in exploring new horizons of fruitful partnership with the Federal Authority for Competitiveness and Statistics, and described the meeting as an ideal opportunity to consolidate efforts at all levels.
Smart Dubai has strategic partners that contributed to more than 137 smart initiatives and 1,129 smart services to the people. Holding such meetings at the local and federal levels underlines the importance of the concerted efforts to ensure the success of the Smart City model and export it to the world. It also sheds light on the methodologies and strategies needed to put Dubai at the forefront of smart cities, and highlight its position as a global model in adopting and employing modern technology for a sustainable future."
She stressed the need to work diligently and dedicate smart initiatives in all sectors to contribute to sustainable development and achieve the strategic goals in accordance with the vision of the wise leadership, which in turn contributes to positioning the emirate as a global destination on various levels and, achieve the happiness of the people of the UAE.
The meeting reviewed SDO’s role in spearheading the efforts to transform Dubai into a smart city. The roadmap and timeframe for Dubai Smart 2021 vision were presented at the meeting and a comprehensive presentation was made to the visiting delegation, explaining the initiatives and projects launched by SDO. The two sides also discussed ways to speed up joint institutional work to achieve the strategic objectives of both institutions.
Mr. Lootah said, "The success of our strategy that aims to enhance UAE international competitiveness and modernize the national statistical ecosystem depends on the successful partnership and collaboration of our partners in both federal and local government sector.
Our experience with Smart Dubai has always been valuable, as we learn from their innovative approaches and their commitment to achieve their goals and objectives. I look forward to our future collaboration with Smart Dubai on projects that will service the UAE society and brings them happiness and prosperity."
The delegation reviewed key performance indicators of Dubai Smart vision 2021, highlighting the importance of efficient performance in smart transformation and in achieving sustainability by applying the results of the indicators in policy making and future planning of SDO’s initiatives.
- The study underscores the growing importance of measuring public sentiment on public policy
- Focusing on the topic of tolerance in the nation by the public in and outside UAE
- Analyzing 1.4 million unique posts on social media
Dubai, UAE, Cape Town, South Africa – 11 June 2017
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) and BrandsEye, a world leading opinion mining company, announced today the completion of the first sentiment study conducted in the United Arab Emirates on the topic of tolerance in the UAE.
Working in coordination with the team of HE Sheikha Lubna bint Khaled Al Qassimi, Minister of State for Tolerance, the study focused primarily on the topic of tolerance and social media user’s opinion of the Minister’s announcements, activities and the news shared on the Minister’s official social media profiles.
During the research project, approximately 1.4 million unique posts shared by 172,000 social media users in the UAE were analyzed by opinion mining partner BrandsEye. BrandsEye uses a data analytics approach which combines search algorithms, crowd-sourcing and machine learning to accurately analyze conversations for sentiment and the topics driving that sentiment. The study was conducted over the period of three consecutive months earlier this year, and the findings were presented to Minister and her team during a recent visit to the FCSA headcounters.
The study findings highlighted that of all the posts analyzed, 20.5% expressed positive sentiment, 70% was neutral while only 4.5% of conversations were negative. Of the positive sentiment, 44% of the posts were expressed during the holidays in December were pictures of various religious communities in the UAE were shared practicing their faith in complete freedom. The remainder of the positive posts were praising the UAE policies and inclusion ,cohesion tolerance related activities and covering other topics such as low unemployment rates and attributing it to UAE providing an equal opportunity for everyone living on its land.
"The findings were very interesting and I am very delighted that people were mainly positive and/or neutral when it came to how they felt towards our announcements, programs and activities in and outside the UAE," commented HE Sheikh Lubna. "Policy and data are very interrelated in the decision making process. Knowing how people feel, adds a new layer of knowledge and insight that support drive more effective and impactful policies and initiatives for the people."
"Because of fake news, orchestrated and agenda-driven social engineering, many policy makers around the world are struggling to understand and collect accurate information and sentiment about their constituents. As decision makers, we have a grand responsibility to make sure we rely on accurate and effective scientific methods to have a better understanding of what really matters to the people," added HE Shaikha Lubna.
"We are very excited to be working with Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna’s office and the team in FCSA on this important project. The world of opinion mining is set to change the way governments and business conduct research, providing accurate data that will help drive better decision making at all levels," said JP Kloppers, BrandsEye CEO. "The sheer quantity of online conversations coupled with the instantaneous reactivity of this digital chatter has meant that sentiment-driven opinion data has become a mineable resource that gives one unique insight into how the public actually feel.
Kloppers added that fake news and what is known as ‘news feed bubbles’ are creating significant pockets of public opinion that are not based on truth, undermining the legitimacy (and demand for) their journalism. "Opinion mining offers a way for media to accurately measure and report on public opinion, regardless of its veracity," added Kloppers.
"Organizations around the world now have access to millions of relevant data points in both mature and developing markets. The data, if mined correctly, can provide insights that not only assist in decision-making, but also can shape product innovation and help reduce risk," said Abdulla Lootah, Director General of the FCSA.
"As a UAE federal government official reference on all matters related to statistics, competitiveness and data, it is part of FCSA’s mandate to explore, identify and adopt the latest global trends and technology to serve our stakeholders. Our collaboration with BrandsEye is just the beginning and to a new dimension on how we plan to transform the statistics and data business in the UAE. We look forward to more engagements on various topics across the UAE," concluded Mr. Lootah.
Session taking place on sidelines of World Data Forum will discuss how traditional statistics gathering is making way for digital forms
Dubai, October 24, 2018
The impact of the data revolution on statistics gathering and fieldwork will be an issue under the spotlight at a side session of the forthcoming United Nations World Data Forum, which is being organised by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) and takes place October 22-24 at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.
Titled Bye ‘Bye-Bye Statistics,’ the activity being presented by Saber bin Saeed Al Harbi, Director General of GCC-Stat, will examine how advances in technology are creating breakthroughs in data collection and negating the labour intensive, traditional methods for harvesting and promulgating statistics.
“We are facing a sea-change in the way data is collected, stored, analysed and disseminated, with rapid leaps forward in technology creating a fundamental shift in the way that information is gathered. The ‘Bye-Bye Statistics’ session on the side-lines of the UN World Data Forum aims to show attendees how it is now possible to do away with time-consuming fieldwork and the compiling of static tables. It will reveal the latest developments in virtual statistics and how to best utilise data acquired from sensors, satellite imagery data and GPS integrated data,” Saber bin Saeed Al Harbi
Bye-Bye Statistics will discuss the future demographic of the statistics world, which the session coordinators say will feature fewer compilers and more analytics, with those involved in the field also being younger. It will highlight how statistics will be defined by networks instead of buildings, with the work increasingly involving smart skills and machine learning. It will also examine the process of initiating change and the policies that managers responsible for data collection can adopt to ensure that their teams become enthusiastic early adopters of the new models.
“The Bye-Bye Statistics session will examine the best ways for managers to introduce these changes to bring their teams along with them. We will be examining the various stages involved in creating successful change, such as establishing a sense of urgency, creating a guiding coalition, developing a strategy, generating short-term wins and consolidating gains,” added Saber Al Harbi
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, the UN World Data Forum 2018 brings together more than 1,500 data experts, high-ranking government officials and prominent policy makers from around the world. Now in its second edition, the globally-recognised event contributes to the establishment of a scientific incubator environment to enhance the role of data and statistics in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 2030; namely food security, health and learning.
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