UAE economy grew in first half of 2026 despite impact of Iran war
The UAE's real gross domestic product grew 0.4 per cent annually to Dh961.9 billion ($262 billion) in the first half of 2026, driven by non-oil business activity, despite the impact of the Iran war. The non-oil sector's contribution to the GDP during the six-month period increased by 1.8 per cent to 79.2 per cent, the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre said in a statement on Friday.…
The UAE's economy expanded by 0.4% annually during the first half of 2026, reaching Dh961.9 billion ($262 billion), according to the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre. This growth was primarily fueled by the non-oil sector, which increased its contribution to the GDP by 1.8% to 79.2%. The FCSC attributed these results to the UAE's ongoing economic diversification and the growing influence of non-oil activities.
The center noted that these expanding contributions signify a diverse range of growth drivers, supporting sustainable and balanced economic development across multiple sectors. In the second quarter alone, the real GDP fell by 2.1% annually to Dh476.9 billion. However, even this decline was largely due to the non-oil sectors, which contracted by 1.1%, primarily because of regional developments and travel disruptions, particularly in tourism, transport, and trade.
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