{
  "id": 12113551,
  "title": "UAE non-oil economy holds strong as PMI stays at 20-month high",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/uae-non-oil-economy-holds-strong-as-pmi-stays-at-20-month-high",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-05T08:46:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/business/economy/uae-non-oil-economy-holds-strong-as-pmi-stays-at-20-month-high-1.500698713"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In September, the UAE's non-oil private sector continued its robust growth, with business conditions reaching a 20-month high, according to new data from S&P Global. Despite challenges, stronger domestic and international demand helped drive activity, new orders, and hiring. The Seasonally Adjusted S&P Global UAE Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) remained steady at 55.3, indicating continued expansion in the private sector. David Owen, principal economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, noted that the UAE's non-oil economy had \"outgrown the mid-year slowdown caused by the Middle East conflict\" and highlighted that businesses saw an improvement in customer demand, both locally and abroad. This growth led to a significant increase in selling prices, the highest since May 2011. Companies faced rising costs due to material and freight expenses, as well as shipping pressures. However, they managed to pass these costs onto customers, marking the strongest price increase in over 15 years. Hiring resumed in September after a previous reduction in August, though the pace remained cautious. Companies reported increased purchasing and employment, driven by higher output requirements. Additionally, businesses spent more on inputs like construction materials and electrical items, with supplier delivery times improving for the fourth month in a row. Dubai's non-oil economy also showed improvement, with its PMI rising to 54.5 in September, the highest reading of 2026. The emirate's robust business activity and foreign orders growth outpaced other regions, while domestic spending and government investment further boosted business confidence. While domestic demand and government investment bolstered UAE non-oil growth, concerns remain over rising input and selling prices, as volatile oil markets and shipping constraints continue to test businesses.",
  "summary": "Dubai: The UAE’s non-oil private sector maintained strong growth momentum in September, with business conditions holding at a 20-month high, as stronger demand at home and abroad supported activity, new orders and hiring. 3 in September, matching…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}