UAE economy edges up 0.4% in H1, hit by spring tra...

Summary

• The UAE economy grew a modest 0.4% over the first six months of 2026, official figures show, with non-oil gains offsetting a steep spring contraction.
• Back then, the UAE economy grew 3%, and non-oil activity rose 4.8%, earlier official data showed.
• Non-oil exports jumped 23.9% in the first half to 452.8 billion dirhams, government data show, helped by the country’s network of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements.

AI Generated Summary

The UAE economy grew a modest 0.4% over the first six months of 2026, official figures show, with non-oil gains offsetting a steep spring contraction.

In constant-price terms, the economy was worth 961.9 billion dirhams, or $262 billion, over the period. The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) released the figures on Friday, according to the state news agency WAM.

Non-oil activity rose 1.8% over that period. Non-oil sectors now account for 79.2% of output, against 78.1% a year before. Oil makes up the other 20.8%.

Second quarter shrinks

However, the half-year figure hides a sharp slowdown in the spring. In the second quarter, real GDP fell 2.1% on the year to 476.9 billion dirhams.

Non-oil output also slipped 1.1% in that quarter. According to the FCSC, regional developments and travel disruption hit several sectors, especially tourism, transport and trade.